Film: Kandireega
Cast: Ram, Hansika, Aksha, Sonu Sood, Swathi (guest role), Srinivasa Reddy, M. S. Narayana, Pragathi, Raghu Babu, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam, Ajay, Chandra Mohan, Brahmanandam and others
Dialogues: Kona Venkat
Music: Taman S S
Cinematography: Andrew
Editing: Kotagiri Venkateshwara Rao
Executive producer: Mahendra
Produced by: Bellamkonda Suresh
Story and directed by: Santosh Srinivas
Release date: August 12, 2011
What's it about!
Bhavani (Sonu Sood) is a rowdy and he is in love with a student named Sruthi (Hansika). Bhavani makes sure that no body comes near to Sruthi, but the trouble is Sruthi loves an awara kind of Srinu (Ram) who doesn't care the power of Bhavani. To stop Srinu from seeing Sruthi, Bhavani kidnaps her and puts her in the house of another rowdy leader Rajanna (Jayaprakash Reddy). Srinu goes to this Rajanna's house, where another love story ensues with Rajanna's daughter Sandhya (Aksha) seeking attention of Srinu.
Analysis
Kandireega marks the debut of cinematographer Santosh Srinivas as director. The young director with the help of writer Kona Venkat plays the safe game - using time-tested elements like comedy, action and glamour in right proportions and incorporating dialogues that get claps and whistles from mass audiences. It is more of a mix of director Srinu Vytla brand of comedy and Vinayak's formula of mass elements. Especially the scenes of Chandramohan, M S Narayana, etc entering the house of Rajanna in the second half reminds you the scenes of Srinu Vytla's Ready.Ram with his energetic histrionics, performance makes the movie an entertainer.
Telugu audiences have seen these kind of movies and scenes umpteen times, yetKandireega doesn't give you boredom. That is where Kandireega scores. Though first half is breezy and entertaining, second half moves on predictable end and it is lengthy. Length of the film is a big problem.
Performances
Ram brings the liveliness to the movie and his histrionics with tint of comedy makes all the difference to otherwise regular movie. Especially in confrontational scenes with Sonu Sood, he shines. Like always, he is good at dance steps. Hansika has put on weight, yet she provides enough 'glamour quotient'. Aksha is good. Of all the films she has done, this role might give her more mileage. Colors Swathi does cameo appearance in a song. Sonu Sood appears mostly as comic bad guy than menacing villain. Sonu Sood actually has better role in the movie and he gives his best. Too many characters are there in the movie - senior actors like Jaya Prakaksh Reddy, Chandramohan, M S Narayana, etc have done their job well in those roles.
Some dialogues are hilarious but the writer has shown his strength in giving fresh touch to the regular scenes that provided laughter. Andrew' s visuals are bright and his camera work has brought richness to the film. "Champakmala.." song is best of the pick from the Taman's compositions for this film.
As a debutant director, Santosh Srinivas passes the muster. He succeeds in making the movie a mass entertainer.
Bottom-line!
Don't expect freshness from the film but if you are looking for time-pass entertainer,Kandireega satisfies you. Kandireega is poor Xerox copy of super hit Ready and other commercial entertainers, yet it provides enough comedy.
Rating: 3/5
