Karthik Subbaraj’s story is well complimented by Varun’s larger than life characterization and Harish’s narration.
Rating : 3/5
Tagline : Out and out Varun’s show
Tagline : Out and out Varun’s show
Valmiki is the remake of the cult classic in Tamil Jigarthanda. I must admit that when Harish Shankar took up this project to do it in Telugu I was taken by surprise. Varun Tej, who’s found his mojo as an actor in TFI has taken a challenging script this time. Let’s see how this movie fared in Telugu.
An assistant director Abhi challenged his director that he’ll become a star director in an year. He sets out on a mission to make a movie where the villain is a hero and finds the gangster Ganesh in the village of Gaddalakonda. He wants to make the movie of Ganesh and his life and seeks his friend Konda Malli’s help. He keeps following Ganesh and his associates closely to get to know him well without the knowledge of Ganesh. Ganesh finds out that Abhi and Kondamalli are following him. What does Ganesh do with Abhi and Konda and what is the backstory of Ganesh’s life form the story of Valmiki.
Varun Tej as Ganesh is just outstanding. His makeover for this character is topnotch. Pooja Hegde as Sridevi is cute as always. She gets very little screen time. Atharva as Abhi is a fresh face and does really well. His acting is impressive. Mrinalini Ravi as Bujjamma looks beautiful and does a good job. Jabardasth Satya as Konda Malli gives the comic relief. His timing and expressions are amazing. Reminds of Sunil in the good old days.
First half of the movie is really the core of the movie. The story writing of Karthik Subbaraj is so good that he doesn’t put a food wrong in laying the foundation of the movie. Especially the portrayal of Ganesh character and the cruelty in Ganesh’s eyes is menacing. There’s a mediocre twist at the end of first half. But the director keeps it engaging throughout the first half.
The second half is more about the flashback of Ganesh’s life. The love story between Ganesh and Sridevi is good but ends in a sad way as expected. Harish Shankar comes out of his commercial comfort zone and directs this story really well. The second half feels a little lengthy though at the end with the forced comedy scenes.
The cinematography of the movie is really good. In the first half, every scene of Ganesh looked like the introduction scene of a hero in slow motion. But Varun’s looks really compliment the dop. The music of the movie by Mickey J Meyer is okay. Elluvochi Godaramma song picturization is funny. Zarra Zarra is a good number. But the BGM has been really good. Overall, the movie makes for a one time watch for the movie lovers with Varun’s acting and the narration.
- Chaitanya Somavajhala(@ChaitanSrk)
An assistant director Abhi challenged his director that he’ll become a star director in an year. He sets out on a mission to make a movie where the villain is a hero and finds the gangster Ganesh in the village of Gaddalakonda. He wants to make the movie of Ganesh and his life and seeks his friend Konda Malli’s help. He keeps following Ganesh and his associates closely to get to know him well without the knowledge of Ganesh. Ganesh finds out that Abhi and Kondamalli are following him. What does Ganesh do with Abhi and Konda and what is the backstory of Ganesh’s life form the story of Valmiki.
Varun Tej as Ganesh is just outstanding. His makeover for this character is topnotch. Pooja Hegde as Sridevi is cute as always. She gets very little screen time. Atharva as Abhi is a fresh face and does really well. His acting is impressive. Mrinalini Ravi as Bujjamma looks beautiful and does a good job. Jabardasth Satya as Konda Malli gives the comic relief. His timing and expressions are amazing. Reminds of Sunil in the good old days.
First half of the movie is really the core of the movie. The story writing of Karthik Subbaraj is so good that he doesn’t put a food wrong in laying the foundation of the movie. Especially the portrayal of Ganesh character and the cruelty in Ganesh’s eyes is menacing. There’s a mediocre twist at the end of first half. But the director keeps it engaging throughout the first half.
The second half is more about the flashback of Ganesh’s life. The love story between Ganesh and Sridevi is good but ends in a sad way as expected. Harish Shankar comes out of his commercial comfort zone and directs this story really well. The second half feels a little lengthy though at the end with the forced comedy scenes.
The cinematography of the movie is really good. In the first half, every scene of Ganesh looked like the introduction scene of a hero in slow motion. But Varun’s looks really compliment the dop. The music of the movie by Mickey J Meyer is okay. Elluvochi Godaramma song picturization is funny. Zarra Zarra is a good number. But the BGM has been really good. Overall, the movie makes for a one time watch for the movie lovers with Varun’s acting and the narration.
- Chaitanya Somavajhala(@ChaitanSrk)