CineGoer.com - Telugu Movie Reviews

Both 'Yamas' Steal the Show

APK | August 15, 2007

Rating: ***.25 (***** Very Good, **** Good, *** Fair, ** Average, * Bad)

Cast: NTR, Mohanbabu, Kushboo, Mamta Mohandas, Priyamani, Brahmanandam, Naresh, MS Narayana, Narendra Jha, Rajeev Kanakala, Ali, Raghubabu and Others.
Art: Anand Sai.
Choreography: Prem Rakshit.
Cinematography: KK Senthil Kumar.
Dialogues: M. Ratnam.
Editing: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao.
Music: MM Keeravani.
Story: V. Vijayendra Prasad.
Screenplay & Director: Rajamouli.
Presenter: Rama Rajamouli.
Producer(s): Cheri & Urmila.
Banner: Viswamitra Creations.
Release Date: 15th August, 2007.

NTR

Yamadonga has three old stamps on it: An SS Rajamouli Film, A Keeravani Musical and an NTR starrer. It also has several new stamps. It is inspired from the old NTR (senior)'s Yamagola, it stars Mohanbabu in the role of Lord Yama and it has many female leads, only two of whom appear for more than 3 minutes.

The first thing to be remember before watching this movie is that it is a fantasy flick, something that Gen Y is hardly used to. The second thing to be remembered is to throw logic out of the window-only then one can enjoy 'Young Yama' and his one-of-a kind voyage.

Plot Raja is a thief and Mahi is a rich orphan living with her grandfather and other relations. They meet and Mahi gives Raja a Holy locket. Fast Forward 12 years, and that locket seems to follow Raja in spite of his many attempts to get rid of it. Meanwhile Mahi, abused by her relations, seeks refuge in Raja's house. He lets her stay when he finds out who she is and thinks of his profit. In a drunken stupor, he abuses the Lord of Death of the Hindu Myth-Lord Yama. Angered, Yama cuts short Raja's long life and gets him killed in a fight. Raja goes to Hell, but remains the same thief. He steals Yama's legendary whip and takes control. What follows is a death-defying journey, literally.

Story, Screenplay and Direction The story is novel, having taking only bits and pieces from Yamagola. It is not indigestible, simply because it is full of the Rajamoulisms that the public cannot get enough of. Moulisms is nothing but the by-product of the Raghavender Rao school of thought. So there's loads of belly-button display, both clean and otherwise and a few gimmicks.

Technically, the whole Yama Lokam and Indra Lokam oscillate between looking straight out of a video game to being grandiose and convincing. The concept of hell and heaven and costumes of Heavenly beings have been the same since 1932, and no one goes beyond Ravi Varma paintings somehow.

Mamta Mohandas

The fight sequences, especially those in the first half are really well shot. The editing is slick; ditto the cinematography. The music and choreography are an asset to the movie, including the background score. The casting is good, and the chemistry between NTR and Mohanbabu is worth a watch. None of the women really make an impression, and the movie is dominated by the duo.

In the first half, the chain following Raja all the time is amusing. Ali posing as a doll is silly yet funny. In the second half, the election in Hell is entertaining. NTR senior's surprise appearance and the whole gimmick that surrounds it is-well, gimmicky-but it's still fun. Mamta Mohandas' role seems inspired slightly by Savithri's in Mayabazar-it's okay while it lasts but nothing mind boggling. 'Olammi' is a little crude.

Dialogues of the Day: 'Bamgola Jamba' or something like that which Yama Dharmaraju keeps saying. For further information and clarification, contact Mohanbabu/Rajamouli.

NTR's entry is marked by Ali's dialogue: Puli manishiga marute ela untundo telusa? Take a wild guess on this one. Who? Lord Narasimha Swamy? No, wrong answer. Right answer according to Rajamouli through Ali's words-NTR.

Performances Mohan Babu looks thunderous in Yama's attire. He carries off his costumes excellently, without looking like a drama company artiste, which is a difficult feat to do. More than a decade ago, people who saw and remember Pedarayadu, will want to come back and see a rejuvenated actor. He is really good as Yama, and keeps his usual mannerisms at bay.

NTR can do it all-act, dance, fight. He is sincere, eager and fresh, as if this was his first movie. But it's not, so we get to see the freshness and not any rawness.

Brahmanandam gets to play a more sophisticated Chitragupta than he did before. MS Narayana is comic as ever. Naresh is the perfect Narada, doesn't overdo it at all.

Priyamani gets a boring goody-two-shoes role again, which she pulls off easily. Mamta Mohandas as a seductress complete with Nellore accent and over-the-top body language is okay.

Song and Dance The music and moves of this movie is definitely a highlight.

Last Word It's a fantasy flick, so expect things we don't get to see regularly. Hell, Heaven, Lord of Death and the rest. It's a Rajamouli movie, so expect Moulisms mentioned earlier. The first half and the first part of second half is thoroughly entertaining, while the climax drags slightly. Overall, it makes for a good watch, but if taking kids along, one needs to watch out for the improper 'punch' lines.