Is Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy's director Surender Reddy smitten, err, influenced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali on canvas basis? Or has every South heroic-laden film necessarily have to be a grand spectacle? Let Surender Reddy answer that question in one of his interviews and we go across to analyse his latest celluloid offering.
Straight to Chiranjeevi who has put his heart and soul in the film. The energetic freedom fighter unleashes a massive onslaught against the Britishers and the build-up till the popcorn break makes your adrenaline stir. A child being thrown into the fire, an old man forced to run a race with a horse are scenes that will stay with you. Chiranjeevi's marriage against his wishes makes you feel for him. And then, an Englishman's head being chopped off in water makes you sure that SRNR is a case of 'well begun is half done'. Cheers!
But when you come back to settle in your chair, the stirred adrenaline flows only in spurts. What I mean is that the film loses its steam in the second half for at least a good 45 minutes. People are running all over the screen and some jarring songs and background score only sprinkle salt on the wounds. You feel that a repair job is not going to happen and simply wait for the heroic climax. But suddenly again, Surender Reddy puts it on the running track alright.
Tamannaah Bhatia and Nayanthara who have had little to do suddenly spring into action and take their respective responsibilities. And then comes Tamannaah's suicide dance which is one of the biggest highlights of SRNR, the others being the child's murder in fire, the Englishman's head flying above water and the old man's leap of faith which deserve another mention. The adrenaline is stirred again and it now begins to flow.
The climax of course Reddy going shaheed is something that I don't want to describe. It has to be seen to be believed.
Do I have to write that Amitabh Bachchan (as Chiranjeevi's guruji) is excellent yet again, so what if he has a very small role?
SRNR is a film made with excess melodrama no doubt, heard a few comments of such kind while exiting the plex. Lekin zarror dekh sakte ho. It has many moments. Adrenaline is still flowing. Narasimha Reddy jaise log bhi the hamare desh mein! What are we in contrast!
I am going with THREE-AND-HALf