Mallanna – Telugu Movie Review from Popular sites

1. Idlebrain.com

Telugu Movie review - Mallanna (Kanthaswamy in Tamil)

Jeevi rating: 2.5/5
Punchline: wrong screenplay
Genre: Action
Type: Bilingual (Kanthaswamy in Tamil)
Banner: V Creations

Cast: Vikram, Shriya Saran, Prabhu Ganesan, Krishna, Ashish Vidyarthi, Mukesh Tiwari, Vadivelu, Mumaith Khan & Susi Ganesan

Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Dialogeus – Lyrics: Sahithi
Cinematography: NK Ekambaram
Art: Thota Tharani
Stunts: Kanal Kannan
Story – screenplay – direction: Susi Ganesan
Producer: Kalaipuli S Thanu
Release date: 21 August 2009

Review

Story
Mallana (Vikram) is a CBI officer who works in economic offenses wing. There is a tradition of writing the wishes of devotees on a paper and sticking it to the tree in Mallanna temple of Srisailam. And the wishes of those devotees come true as somebody leaves the required amount of money at the houses of devotees. It is slowly revealed that CBI officer Mallanna runs an underground organization consisting of a group of friends whose duty is to rob the billionaires who amassed loads of wealth through unfair means. They would be distributing the robbed money to the devotees of Mallanna temple. Meanwhile, DGI (Prabhu) is entrusted with the task of demystifying who the Mallanna is. The rest of the story is all about how Mallanna brings two billionaires (Asish Vidyardhi and Mukesh Tiwari) to the road and how DGI finds out the real truth.

Artists Performance

Vikram: Vikram is an epitome of perfection. He is just perfect in the role of CBI officer Mallanna. His mannerisms as rooster in superman getup are excellent. He is extremely feminine in lady get-up. He also dubbed his voice for the character and it’s good. However, his pronunciation and accent is not good in the songs he sung for the movie.

Shrya Saran: Shriya oozes oomph in a sexy role of Subbulakshmi. She exposed liberally. She is suave and highly fashionable. She did belly dance in Allegra song. You don’t see her walking normally in any frame of this movie. She would swing various parts of her body as she walks.

Others: Superstar Krishna donned the role of CBI chief and he is a delight to watch. Prabhu is flawless as cop in pursuit of Mallanna. Brahmanandam is wasted in tasteless comedy episodes (some of the theatres trimmed the scenes of Brahmanandam by cutting 15 minutes of his footage). Bollywood actor Mukesh Tiwari did the role of one of the villain who virtually lives in a caravan. Ashish Vidyarthi is adequate as main villain. Mumaith Khan played herself and danced to the remix song of ‘Pachagaddi koseti’. Director Susi Ganesan did an important role.

Technical departments

Story - screenplay - directon: The story of the movie is a potpourri of Shankar’s corruption/social inequity oriented movies like Aparichitudu, Gentleman and Sivaji. Director Susi Ganesan has got the right raw material for the movie in terms of story idea and casting. What he failed at is to give the right treatment to the story. For example, instead of going the director Shankar’s way, he tried to give James Bond type of characterization to the hero and heroine. Shriya is just like a bond girl in the movie (willing to do anything to betray hero). Mallanna character’s noble intention is marred by bond style of characterization. Susi Ganesan has also failed miserably in screenplay department. By revealing who the Mallanna is and how he does heroic acts in the beginning of the movie, he killed the curiosity of audiences to look forward to for some excitement/thrill in the later part of the movie. After the interval, the movie becomes a personal war between two villains and hero. One idea that is authentic and original is devotees tying papers of wishes to the tree in temple. Another debating element in the movie is that devotees are shown as the people suffering from monitory problems. There are many devotees who visit temple for mental peace and for solutions regarding non-monitory related problems. The biggest negative point for the story is the reason behind hero becoming Mallanna. The flashback episode is not good enough to give the hero a strong motive.

Other departments: Music by Devi Sri Prasad is an asset. All songs in this movie are energetic. All the songs are shot well and they are like music videos. Cinematography is very good except for the Mexican episode. The DI and color grading is also handled well. Stunts are well-choreographed. Dialogues and lyrics by Sahithi are adequate. However, the editing cuts are too jerky and optical work does disturb one’s eyes. Editing should have been better. Art direction by Thota Tharani deservers an appreciation. Production values are grand and it shows up on the screen.

Analysis: First half of the movie establishes the premise and it’s adequate. Second half gets into personal rivalry and movie slips out of the grip as it progresses (from the moment hero accepts the proposition of the villain). Plus points of the movie are Vikram, music and grand production values. The negative points are screenplay, flashback episode (reason why hero wants to help reduce social inequity) and runtime (3 hours and 15 minutes). On a whole, Mallana is an example of what happens when popular screenplay goes wrong in any of Shankar’s movies

2. telugucinema.com

Film: Mallanna
Cast: Vikram, Superstar Krishna, Shriya, Prabhu, Ashish Vidyarthi, Mukesh Tiwari, Mumait Khan, Brahmanandam and others
Dialogues: Sahiti
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematography: N K Ekambaram
Art: Thota Tharani
Produced by: Kalaipuli S Thanu
Story, screenplay and directed by: Susi Ganeshan
Release Date: August 21, 2009
CBFC Rating: U/A

What’s it about!

Mallanna (Vikram) is a CBI Officer working under economic offences investigation department. He steals some of the money that he caught during the raides and distributes to the needy and poor. He comes in disguise of god Mallanna to the helpful who petition at the temple of Mallanna. Once CBI raids on powerful rich person PPP (Ashish Vidyardhi) under the guidance of Mallanna and after that PPP vows to finish him off. His daughter Subbalakahsmi (Shriya) swears revenge and pretends to fall in love with him. Mallanna is protected by CBI Joint director (Krishna) in his Robin Hood activities. The rest of the movie is how Subbalakshmi realizes her fault, and Mallanna achieves his mission.

Analysis

Mallanna is typical Robin Hood story but the director has failed to present it effectively; he has resorted to the camera gimmickry and editing effects. Director Susi Ganeshan seems to have inspired by director Shankar as he has followed the same terrain. The film is shot extravagantly in various exotic locations and action stunts are superb but it doesn’t have soul and substance. By and large, it is kichidi of various flicks like Shivaji (Black Money, Economical Offences), Tagore (Hero and his friends acting like a gang), Shahensha (Robin Hood kind of generosity), Aparichitudu (Getups), etc.

Grand locations, extravagant budget and some of the episodes are the best part of the film and rest is pretty ordinary. Theme and story is interesting but the treatment is lethargic. The film could have been better had the director concentrated more on screenplay rather than his self-indulgence (he acts in the film too).

Performances

Vikram dons various getup including women’s. He is good as lanky CBI officer but his getups are also good but they lack fizz. It is nice to hear Vikram’s own voice in Telugu. Shriya has done most glamorous role in her career. She has indulged in skin show heavily and also done a lip-lip kiss scene. But the romantic scenes between Vikram and Shriya irritate the audiences after sometime as they spoil the main story. Brahamanamdam’s comedy (in some theatres it was chopped off) is also irritating. Superstar Krishna in the role of a senior CBI officer is good although he has not much to do. Prabhu as investigating officer is okay, it is just an extension of Prakash Raj’s character in Tagore. Mumait Khan appears in an item song. Ashish Vidyardhi is okay. Mukesh Tiwari as richest person in AP does good job.

Devi Sri Prasad’s music is the core strength of the film. Excuse Me Mallanna and Mambo songs are the best from the lot. Technically the film is chic with slick production values. Cinematographer Ekambaram makes the film visually stunning but the color grading looks hotchpotch. The biggest villain in the film is editing part. Run time of the movie is heavy (with 3 hours 10 minutes) and ridiculous-editing effects have put strain on eyes. Producer Kalaipuli Thanu has pumped lot of money and the expenses are visible on the screen but looks like director has taken him for a ride.

Bottom-line

The problem with the film is that you get a feeling of déjà vu as most of the action sequences and Vikram’s getups have been showing in trailers on TV channels. You don’t feel get thrilled when you actually see them on silver screen. Mallanna is kichidi of Shivaji, Tagore, Shahensha and Aparichitudu. Shot extravagantly but has no substance.
TC Rating: 2.75/5
Reviewed by JP

 

3. Greatandhra.com

‘Mallanna’ Review: 3 Hr 10 Min Longest Torture

Film: Mallanna
Rating: 1.75/5
Cast: Vikram, Shriya, Krishna, Prabhu, Brahmanandam, Mumaith Khan etc
Camera: NK Ekambaram
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Direction: Susi Ganesan
Producer: Kalaipuli S Thanu
Released On: 21st Aug 2009

The much publicized ‘Mallanna’ arrived today. The openings are very strong and let us see if the maker made it right or wrong.

Story:
Mallanna (Vikram) is a CBI officer who stands like Robinhood in disguise for suffering poor people. He forms a secret group and makes them collect the wish-list of poor devotees at Srisailam Mallanna temple those get tied regularly to a tree in temple premises. The wishes range from a need of Rs 10000 for poor bride’s marriage to a bigger thing like injustice from government officials. Mallanna pilfers the black money from rotten rich people with his intelligence and fulfils the needs of poor people in the disguise of God Mallanna. People believe that God Mallanna is answering their wishes.

Subbalakshmi (Shriya) is the daughter of a cruel and rich man (Asish Vidyarthi) and she become love interest of Mallanna. She has the shades of both good and bad.

An intelligence officer (Prabhu) comes into the scene to make people develop faith in system but not Mallanna. He works to prove that Mallanna is not a God but a human being. Finally, will he succeed in that attempt? That forms rest of the story.

Performances:
Vikram:
He is a perfect actor but the director exploited him in wrong way with Cock get up. He is ok with lady’s get up but the movements he delivered are very bad. The best part in him with respect to this film is singing his own songs. That’s matchless indeed. He proved more than a professional playback singer.

Shriya:
She enthralled with ‘Allegra…’. All these days people know the expression ‘shake it like Shakira’. But now after watching this song, one has to say ‘Shake it like Shriya’. Rest is ok.

Susi Ganesan:
He appeared in a not so important role chasing the protagonist till Mexico.

Krishna:
He is ok as CBI Joint Director

Prabhu:
He is too heavy to watch on big screen. His body language is not convincing to be an active intelligence officer.

Choreography:

• Saroj Khan’s choreography given to the number ‘Dil ye be-chen hai…’ in Taal is directly copied here for ‘Allegra…’
• Shriya’s facial movements given for ‘Excuse me Mr Mallanna’ song are interesting
• ‘Mambo Mamiya’ and ‘Meow Meow’ also dealt reasonably well
• ‘Naa pere kanyakumari…’ of Mumaith Khan scored big by mass audiences

Highlights:

• Music
• Energy levels in Mumaith Khan’s number

Disappointments:

• No Comedy- Brahmanandam’s presence added fuel to the pain instead of bringing laughs
• Weak narration- The need of unearthing the black money from crooked rich hasn’t conveyed with right spirit
• Poor Editing- No frame sustains for more than 2-3 seconds and that cause huge disturbance to eyes and audience feel it difficult to get connected to screen
• Substandard Cinematography- For the budget incurred on movie, the camera would have captured things better
• Worst Fight Sequences- Needless to say
• Length of the movie- It’s really a longest torture with 3 hr 10 minutes.

Analysis:
Telugu audiences have seen films like Azaad, Bharateeyudu etc with the kind of Robihhood elements. Mallanna also falls in that wagon. Concept is ok. But the execution is very bad.

Mallanna’s character was carved with the inspiration of Batman but that didn’t gel well with the taste of majority Telugu audiences. Eccentricities were seen in the character with the get up of Cock. The concepts of this sort sound better when dealt with convincing scenes those are close to reality. Although cinema liberties can be taken they cannot be of this extreme.

Romance part is very weak in the movie and that is another big minus. Shriya was given a tomboyish type of character and she could justify up to that.

On a whole, the movie is a disappointment and didn’t meet the expectations.

 

4. Cinegoer.com

Cast: Vikram, Shriya, Krishna, Prabhu, Brahmanandam, Ashish Vidyarthi, Mukesh Tiwari, Mumait Khan and others.
Action: Chatrapathi Shakti.
Art: Padmashri Thota Tharani.
Cinematography: NK Ekambaram.
Editing: Praveen KL & Srikanth KB.
Lyrics: Sahithi.
Music: Devisri Prasad.
Presenter: V Creations Kalaipuli S. Thanu.
Story, Screenplay, & Director: Susi Ganeshan.
Release Date: August 21, 2009
It's probably a fad to have traditional names for stylish heroines and dogs (Subramanyam in Vasantha Kokila) in south Indian (read as Tamil) films. So the very modern Shriya has her name as Subbalakshmi. The actress has become happening after Sivaji. Whether clad in half-sarees or skirts or shorts, Shriya's mannerisms and dances all appear to be the same.
She has mastered the art of expressions however through her arched eyebrows and here in Mallanna she is no different, except for the fact that she sports very short hair. You will get to know that the producer has spent a lot on Mallanna, not just because Shriya is in a mood to have coffee with Mallanna and takes him to an exotic locale in a jet just for that cuppa.
Mallanna is the modern-day Robin Hood. He comes with a mask of a rooster, makes those funny noises, wipes the tears of the needy and vanishes. He is a CBI officer who in the garb of 'Mallanna' comes as a saviour fulfilling the needs of the people and leaves with an impression of a Trishul on the offender's cheek. This happens with the knowledge of CBI director played by Krishna.
Once, Mallanna raids Ashish Vidyarthi's home and when the daughter learns about it, she resolves to pay him back with the same coin by pretending to fall in love with him.
Mallana proves to be too smart for her. While Subbalakshmi wants to unravel the mystery, there is a turn in the story. She is seen accompanying Mallana to Mexico. Why does she go there? What happens there? The post-interval concentrates on those mentioned aspects.
Though the film appears to be a pastiche of various films, the first half runs interestingly, the heroine's intro and her scenes look hurried. Shriya tearing of her clothes in order to trap Mallanna and her pretense looks bad.
Vikram is smashing. He looks suave, sophisticated as the CBI officer and slips into a woman's and a old man's role with ease. His blindfolded fight towards the end is interestingly captured.
The screenplay in the second half of the story falters, and towards the last half an hour it is a drag. Just to make the audience feel it's a pucca Telugu film they have included Brahmanadam and the man tires you with his repetitive dialogues. Entertainment is hollow.
The film looks rich but one gets the feel that Vikram could have played the perfect Robinhood even without the fancy dress like costumes which did not add value to the film. The film had a lot of scope to show the redemption of the rich man effectively but the portrayal did not succeed. Right from the beginning of the film, one gets a feeling that the director is in a hurry to finish of the film but surprisingly the movie never seems to end.
Wonder why Krishna was taken in that officer's role, except for the fact he wore a couple of good clothes and looked glamorous even in this age, he didn't have anything constructive to do in the film.
Mallanna has good songs, ineffective dialogues, has an interesting first half but post-interval it disappoints.