1. Idlebrain.com
Jeevi rating: 3.25/5
Punchline: an honest film
Genre: Action
Type: Straight
Banner: Three Angels Studio
Cast: Nara Rohit, Ranadhir, Sayaji Shinde, AVS, Ragini, Rajiv Kanakala, Bhanu Chandar etc
Music: Mani Sharma
Cinematography: Anil Bhandari
Dialogues: Nagaraju Gandham
Stunts: Vijay, Ram - Lakshman
Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Art: Bhupesh R Bhupati
Story – screenplay – direction: Chaitanya Dantuluri
Producer: Seshu Priyanka Chalasani
Release date: 16 September 2009
Review
Story 
The story of the movie happens in the year of 1989. Bhagat Panigrahi (Nara Rohit) is a son of ex-maoist Chandra Sekhar Panigrahi (Sayaji Shinde). He is a man of principles and he always thinks about solutions within the system. His goal is to become an IPS officer. Sakthi Sahu (Ranadhir) is a dreadful mafia guy in the same area. They cross each other's path in an incident. It becomes a personal issue for Sakthi. But Bhagat treats it as a failure of system. The rest of the story is about how he corrects the issue while becoming the IPS officer.
Artists Performance
Nara Rohit delivers what is needed for the character. His voice is an asset. He looks pretty good in close up shots. He has got adequate screen presence. He need to shed a little more weight look leaner on the screen. He also need to acquire flexibility in his body language. At this juncture, Nara Rohit seems to be perfect fit for author backed roles. Vedika did the role of a traditional Brahmin girl and she is apt. Sunitha dubbed her voice. Ranadhir is perfect as the villain. Sayaji Shinde gets another noteworthy character in this movie after Arundhati film. Rajiv Kanakala does his character with panache. His get-up and mannerisms are realistic. Bhanu Chandar is good. This movie sports mostly new faces and all of them did well.
Technical departments
Story - screenplay - directon: Story of the movie is about how a righteous guy tries to be morally correct while wiping out the evil forces in the society by adhering the rules and regulations of the system. Chaitanya Dantuluri makes a honest and sincere attempt to narrate the story without deviating from the content. He was able to present whatever he wanted to tell in a clear and lucid manner. The way he has avoided showing action sequences in a couple of fights in the first half is very creative. Screenplay of the movie is nice. And this movie reflects realism. However, I expected a better narration in the movie after hero employs four officers. He should have shown how these four officers eliminated faults in the system in more effective way. Nonetheless, Chaitanya Dantuluri should be commended for making a honest movie without falling prey to the so-called commercial elements. Watching Baanam is like watching one of those Vishal Bharadwaj's realistic Hindi movies. The director also devised the movie into three chapters (Quentin Tarantino style).
Other departments: Mani Sharma gave apt songs in the movie. They are like a part of the background music. In my opinion, the background music given by Mani Sharma for Baanam is the best in his career. It infused life into the movie. Cinematography Anil Bhandari is excellent. The framing and execution of camera is very untypical of regular Telugu cinema. Dialogues by Nagarju Gandham are seamlessly integrated into the script. No dialogues are written just for the heck of it. Editing by Marthand K Vanekatesh is crisp and the movie's runtime is around 2 hours. Art direction is nice and fights are realistic. The locations are good in the movie. Proper care is taken to suit 1989 era by the art director. Lyrics of the songs make an impact. Seshu Priyanka Chalasani should be appreciated for coming forward to make a movie that has no typical commercial elements. These kind of films work only if the content is good in the final product. And it is highly difficult to judge if a new director could pull it off at the time of script approval. It is nice to see Vyjayanthi banner that is known for commercial films is trying to enter the futuristic arena by producing realistic films..
Analysis: I can't divide this movie into first half and second half to tell how it is. The entire movie is realistic and honest. It is a well handled movie with technical work complementing the content. I feel that director could have devised a better way of showing pre-climax (cleaning/correcting the system) with more mind play so that it would take the graph of the emotions to the peak. There are also little bit of slowness in the film regarding heroine's thread. The plus points are honest direction, brilliant music and nice camera work. After Gamyam movie, I have seen another honest and path breaking movie. Let's hope that the audience will also like it and make it a hit. Success of films like these will infuse novelty and honesty in Telugu filmmaking standards. Otherwise, we end up watching the same formulaic films dished out mercilessly week after the week
2. telugucinema.com
Film: Banam
Cast: Nara Rohith (debut film), Vedika, Ranadheer, Shayaji Shinde, Bhanuchander, Rajeev Kanakala, AVS, Shivanarayana, Ragini, Giridhar and others
Dialogues: Nagaraju Gandham
Music: Manisharma
Cinematography: Anil Bhandari
Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Art: Bhupesh R Bhupati
Action: Ram-Laxman
Executive producer: K Saibaba
Produced by: Seshu Priyanka Chalasani
Banner: 3 Angels Studio
Story, screenplay and directed by: Chaitanya Dantaloori
Release Date: September 16, 2009
CBFC Rating: U/A
What’s it about!
The film is set in 1989 at Ranasthali in Srikakulam district. Bhagat (Nara Rohith) is an idealistic youngster who aspires to become IPS officer, as he believes that only justice can be brought through ‘legal system’. His father is a Naxalite leader but ‘retires’ from the movement to spend time with his son. One day, Bhagat happens to see newly wed woman (Vedika) sitting at Railway Station alone and he comes to know from her that her in-laws sent her away to bring dowry. On the same day, her father dies, her in-laws reject her, and so he brings her to his home. Soon a local rowdy eyes on her that makes Bhagat to fight with him. In the melee, the rowdy dies and Bhagat goes to jail. On the other hand, several police offices try to contain the activities of the rowdy’s boss, Patnaik (Ranadheer), but couldn’t do so. How our hero Bhagat does it being within the ‘system’ forms the rest of the story.
Analysis
Banam is a sensible movie. Niche audiences who like films with different approach and offbeat stories can like it. Although it starts off pretty promisingly and sets you up rather well, it fails to continue the same till the end. Debutant director Chaitanya should be commended for treading off the beaten track in narrating the movie and in selecting the story. Despite snail pace of the movie, first half arrests you and intrigues you. The director has tried to bring certain stylized depiction of heroism and scenes.
Climax scenes are pretty ordinary. The film is essentially about an idealistic guy who wants to cleanse the system. Question is: why should the film happen in 1989? What is so important about that period? Was it Naxalism? Even hero employing four police officers under training to cleanse the system is not told in convincing manner. Other than these faults, the film on the whole is sensible and a very good attempt. Nara Rohith’s look and his acting skills, some good locales, first half of the movie are interesting part of the film.
Performances
Nara Rohith, son of former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s brother, makes a very confident debut. He has good looks and his subtle acting (is it deliberate) is very impressive. At a time, all star sons and newcomers are debuting with a commercial film; Nara Rohith should be commended for choosing this offbeat film. Like Abhay Deol in Bollywood, he can be good choice for certain roles. He looks promising. Dialogue delivery is his strength.
Vedika in a Brahmin girl is okay. Looks like her role is created to show off hero’s idealistic nature than weaving a romantic thread. Shayaji Shinde’s role of a former Naxalite is poorly etched. Other actors are okay. Ranadhir as main villain does justice to his role
Technically, the film is very nice. Cinematography by Anil Bhandari (is he the same cameraman who did the shabby Mallepuvvu?) is excellent. The locales they have chosen (near Bobbili and Pollachi) also have brought freshness on to the screen. Dialogues by Gandham Nagaraju (of Gamyam fame) are poetic.
Art director has succeeded in recreating 80’s look. Even the director has intelligently created scenes like Shiva cycle chain scene, and a theatre showing Geetanjali film, to depict that period.
After a long time, Manisharma has given good music especially his background score is splendid. The song, Kadile Padam , has good lyrical value (Vanamali.). It is nice that debutant director Chaitanya Dantaloori has brought some realism into Telugu films at a time Tollywood increasingly falling into the trap of masala movies. He definitely seems to have innovative ideas but he needs to put it in more channelised way. His shot making style resembles to RGV’s. Though he lost his grip in the climax scenes, as a director he looks a promising talent. Producer Seshu Priyanka has good taste.
Bottom-line!
Banam is an offbeat film with sensible approach. Although it has its faults, it should be appreciated for attempting such films. Nara Rohith and director Chaitanya look promising. The film might be liked by niche audiences.
Reviewed by JP
Rating: 3/5
3. Greatandhra.com
'Baanam' Review: Serious And Sensible
Film: Baanam
Rating: 3/5
Banner: Three Angels Studio
Cast: Nara Rohit, Vedhika, Sayaji Shinde, Ranadheer, Rajeev Kanakala, Bhanuchander, AVS, Sivanarayana, Ragini, Giridhar etc
Music: Mani Sharma
PRO: BA Raju
Cinematography: Anil Bandari
Director: Chaitanya Dantuluri
Producer: Seshu Priyanka
Release date: 16th Sep 2009
The movie raises curtain for Nara Rohit, the new actor from political family. As the title sounds, it’s a serious flick and let us see how far the expectations were met.
Story:
Bhagat Panigrahi (Nara Rohi) is an IPS aspirant who happens to the son of an ex-naxalite Sekhar Panigrahi (Sayaji Shinde). Subba Lakshmi (Vedika) is a Brahmin girl who gets betrayed by husband and in laws and also loses her father. Bhagat rescues her from a Railway Station and takes her to his house.
On the other hand Shakti Patnaik (Ranadheera), an anti social element holds entire system in his control and rules as per his whims and fancies in a place called Ranasthali. An incident drives Bhagat on Shakti and thus he develops turbulence with him.
Finally who wins on whom is not a question! But how one wins on other? That forms the subject.
Performances:
Nara Rohit: His character goes in underplaying mode. He looked good on screen with sharp features but limited his performance with just 2-3 expressions on a whole. He seems to have got fixed up in rigidity in some scenes. He needs to develop ease in face and body to rock ahead as commercial hero. His voice is sounding good with huge base tone.
Vedika: She has perfectly grooved in the role of a Brahmin girl and acted as per the requirement without over acting or under playing.
Sayaji Shinde is ok as naxalite while Bhanu Chander and Rajeev Kanakala are perfect as police cops. Ranadheer of ‘Happy Days’ and ‘Yuvatha’ fame has played well as antagonist. He looked like JD Chakravarthy in some angles.
Technically the movie is sound and especially music, songs, cinematography and editing worked well.
Director has shown enough flair in showing symbolisms. Some mentionable scenes those depict the caliber of director:
- Showing the photos of Bhagat Singh and Che Guevara parallel to father and son respectively, to denote their ideologies
- Jasmines in the plait of heroine losing color to denote that she sat at the same place whole day in Railway Station
- Showing Sri Sri’s ‘Mahaprasthanam’ in hero’s hands when he revolts on anti social elements for the first time
- Showing Rs 2/- currency note in the hand of Sayaji Shinde to demonstrate the atmosphere of 1989
- Geetanjali movie running in a theatre, again to depict that was 1989
- Showing the ship named ‘Shikari’ when the villain shoots a character and kills
- Hero holding ‘sutthi and kodavali’ in climax fight to portray his ideology (as the villain holds ‘trisoolam’ in his hand, it can be understood as fight between theism and atheism)!
All the above scenes say that director has some mettle in him. At the same time the director has missed the opportunity to portray 1989 atmosphere on screen in better way with Art Department. Budget might have become a hindrance to it; otherwise it would have become something bigger than Tamil movie ‘Subramaniapuram’, brought into Telugu as Anantapuram. Other than showing Ambassador Cars, wall posters and red capped police constables, nothing else was shown that pumps in nostalgic feel.
Highlights:
Music
Songs
Dialogues
Story line
Disappointments:
Lack of required humor
Analysis:
The movie is serious but sensible. The debut venture of Chaitanya Dantuluri as director is commendable. Nara Rohit also has shown good screen presence although he needs to shine himself with respect to performance and demonstrating histrionics. The limitation in the movie is lack of comedy. The plus point in this is subtle dialogue by Gandham Nagaraju of ‘Gamyam’ fame. Other added glitters are background score by Mani Sharma, beautiful songs and cinematography.
First half of the movie runs serious but promises something interesting in second half. But the second half also runs in similar tempo without any twists or turns. The narration is very well within the limits of audience’s thought periphery but not out of the box.
On a whole, the movie definitely appeals for class audiences but it should go with aggressive publicity to reach masses.
Bottom Line: Worth Watch for a serious treat
4. Cinegoer.com
Nagaraju Gandham.
Editing: Marthand K. Venkatesh.
Music: Mani Sharma.
Producer: Seshu Priyanka Chalasani.
Story, Screenplay & Director: Chaitanya Dantuluri.
Release Date: September 16, 2009 
Debutant director Chaitanya Dantuluri uses a fresh face to tell the story set in 1989. Nara Rohit plays the intelligent, level-headed son of a naxalite Sayaji Shinde who aspires to become a police officer. The film is not a poignant or a heart-breaking story, the narration throws up the steely reserve of a young man who surrounds himself in a positive atmosphere, never giving away his confidence, calm, strength and loves the people around him for what they are be it his father whom he refers to is a better person than him or a damsel in distress whom he rescues and becomes her guardian.
He wants to follow the system, the law methodically and is rattled only when disturbed. His father who gives up naxalism, picks up a weapon again for the son and dies.
Sayaji Shinde and Rohit as father and son share a very flexible, affectionate, understanding relationship. Vedika lends all the innocence required for the character, is very slim and confines herself to the limitations of the role assigned to her. Rohit definitely has a screen presence shows an intensity and toughness required to be a hero and chooses a film that does not quite show his virtuosity as an actor.
The film has it's limitations, it begins well, builds up seriousness in between but doesn't throw the excitement or punch required towards the end of the film. The hero asks Bhanuchander for a few training officers to set a villain and his surrounding system right but the aura and interest he carefully nurtured from the beginning of the film doesn't sustain post-interval and the film slows a bit.
The director has chosen a sensible subject, with a little more gravitas in the dialogues and focus on the hero the movie would have made a tremendous impact. Rohit is shown as being calm and composed right but even in the scenes where he and his men beat the pulp of the villain who is considered as a problem to the society, he falls short of showing an angry expression. The setting, background, music, characters are in sync with the story, technically convincing too.
There are no loud dialogues that show the conflict between the father and son in their ideologies. Chaitanya is promising as a director, succeeds in conveying a detached seriousness and winds up the film intelligently within a time. As far as the hero is concerned, it's a safe debut but the real test begins when he'll have to smile, joke, and run around trees to be a certified Telugu film hero
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