10 Movie Review

Movie: Ten(10)

Cast: Vikram, samantha, rahul dev and abhimanyu singh

Director and Cinematographer: Vijay Milton

Editor: Sreekar Prasad

Music director: Innan

Production houses: Fox studios and AR Murugadoss production

Runtime: 130 minutes

Release date: 15th December, 2017

Watched at Galaxy theatre, Toli chowchi

Story-Line:

James Bond (Vikram) is the best driver and Shakila (Samantha) is the worst driver. Vikram does job of delivering packages for money. Samantha lives in Women's Hostel. During one stage, Vikram gets a deal of delivering Samantha to Bish (Rahul Dev) who is in Uttarakhand. The long journey makes the duo fall in love with each other. Vikram then discovers why Samantha is chased by everyone and how he solves the problem forms the rest of the story.

Performances:

Vikram is seen with full energy in this movie. Right from the start he carries the movie. There is no scope to perform other than in action sequences. Samantha is too good in innocent role and steals the show as it enters climax. Pasupathi doesn't have much space to show his versatility. Rahul dev and abhimanyu singh are good in their characters. 

Analysis:

Vijay Milton failed as a director. A slow and sluggish screenplay with irregular narration was a big let down. Until pre-climax episode, there is no proper story. 

Techinical Values:

Imman's music is another big let down. Songs are not impressive. During action scenes, the BGM plays a huge part. Editing could have been crisp. Editor Sreekar Prasad could have worked a lot more on cuts. Cinema work by Vijay Milton(Director of this film) is good. Dialogues are ok.

Thumbs Up:

Vikram and Samantha

Action sequences

Thumbs Down:

Story

Screenplay

Music

Narration

No single interesting element

Final Verdict: 

'10'[Ten] is an action driven movie which lacks fuel after certain point. Skip this film.

Review by Manikick

Rating: 1.75/5

Malli Raava Review

Movie:  Malli Raava

Cast: Sumanth, Akanksha Singh, Annapurna, Abhinav and Others

Writing and Direction: Gautham Thinnasuri

Music: Shravan Bhardwaj

Cinematographer: Satish Muthyala

Editor: G Satya

Producer: Rahul Yadav Nakka

Banner: Swadharma Entertainment

Certificate: U

Runtime: 123 minutes

Release Date: December, 8th, 2017

Watched at Cine town, Miyapur

Behind the Screens:

Akkineni family hero, Sumanth who has back to back failures at box-office from long time. Now he tries his luck once again at the box-office with his new movie release Malli Raava. He desperately needs a hit with this film. Let us see how the movie was??

Story-line:

Karthik (Sumanth) and Anjali (Aakanksha Singh) who love each other in their childhood. But then Anjali’s parents leave the village and go to Mumbai. They happen to meet each in a software office 13 years later. They have decided to get married but a little while before the marriage, Anjali refuses to marry Karthik. What is the reason for that? How do they meet again? Will they get married? forms the rest of the story.

Performances:

Sumanth and Akanksha Singh breathed life into their respective characters. Sumanth fits well into such roles in soft love stories and so came up with settled performance through out the film. The children who played their childhood roles are also impressive. Mirchi Kiran as Project Manager and other friends in software office are hilarious. Rest of the characters like AnnaPoorna and all others did their job accordingly.

Analysis:

Debut Director Gautham excelled with his first film. Malli Raava has its story in three timelines 1999, 2012 and 2017. The way the director portrayed a subtle love story from childhood and the struggle in the lives of the couple is impressive. The way he executed a complex screenplay and narrated it so effortlessly is very impressive. The twist of Anjali refusing Karthik is well utilized and the suspense is maintained until the end. The director has good command on comedy and generated good fun component in the film making it enjoyable. The scenes in childhood, IT company comedy is clean. The climax is well handled. 

Technical Values:

Shravan Bhardwaj’s music  and Satish’s camera work elevates the mood of the film. Songs goes with the flow in background. Dialogues are well written. Editing is good and there is no other chance to trim any scenes in the film. Production Values are good.

Thumbs Up:

- Sumanth's settled performance

- Execution way of Complex Screenplay

- Music 

- Cinematography

- Comedy

Thumbs Down:

- Little slow narration

Final Verdict:

Malli Raava is an out and out Clean love story with mixing of humor, emotions and comedy in right places.

Once watchable film. Go for it.

Review by Manikick

Rating:  3.25/5.0

Sapthagiri LLB Review

Movie:          Sapthagiri LLB

Cast: Sapthagiri, Kashish Vohra, Sai Kumar, Siva Prasad, Shakalaka Shankar, Prabhas seenu, Dhanraj and Others

Direction: Charan L

Writing: Paruchuri Brothers

Music: Vijay Bulganin

Cinematographer: Sarangam

Editor: Goutham Raju

Producer: Dr Ravi Kiran

Banner: Sai Celluloid Cinematic Creations Pvt Ltd

Release Date: December, 7th, 2017

Watched at Galaxy theatre, Toli chowchi

Behind the Screens:

Comedian Sapthagiri who failed to impress the audience with his first film as a hero with ‘Sapthagiri Express’ is trying his luck once again  with his new film, ‘Sapthagiri LLB’ which is a re-make of hindi film ‘Jolly LLB’. Let us see how the movie was??

Story-line:

Sapthagiri (Sapthagiri) completes his LLB and he used to settle small issues of his village at Panchayathi with his intelligence. But then, he never wins a case in the court. He goes to hyderabad city for better practice and takes up a Hit and Run case which was being handled by a Senior Advocate Raj Paul (Sai Kumar). What happens next after Saptagiri takes up the case and the rest is all about how he wins the case.

Performances:

Comedian turned hero Sapthagiri impressed with his dance moves and dialogues. His performance in the last 40 minutes opposite Sai Kumar is impressive. Kashish Vohra is okay in small role. Sai Kumar impresses in a role which is typical criminal lawyer which was excelled by Boman Irani in the Original. He is seen delivering lengthy dialogues quite easily. Rest of the characters did their job accordingly.

Analysis:

Sapthagiri LLB is the Re-make of Bollywood Hit film, Jolly LLB. The director Charan tried to stay honest to the original as much as possible as many changes will kill the soul of the film. But then the little changes he made. The court episodes are good even though too many cinematic liberties are taken.  Paruchuri Brothers added farmers’ angle to the case towards the end and brought some emotional touch. Saptagiri did some good dances as well. 

Technical Values:

Songs are speed breakers to story narration and the background score is okay. Surangam’s camera work is fine. Dialogues by Paruchuri Brothers are impressive. Production values are good.

Movie Marks:

Sapthagiri LLB is the Re-make of Bollywood Hit film, Jolly LLB. Given the image of Sapthagiri carries, this lawyer character is overlooked.

Review by Manikick 

Rating:  2.5/5

Jawaan Review

Movie: Jawaan

Cast: Sai Dharam Tej, Mehreen, Prasanna, Satyam Rajesh, Kota Srinivasa Rao and Others

Writing and Direction: BVS Ravi

Producer: Krishna

Presenter: Dil Raju

Music: Thaman

Cinematographer: KV Guhan

Editor: SR Shekhar

Banner: Arunachal Creations

Release Date: December, 1st, 2017

Behind the Screens:

Sai Dharam Tej had delivered back to back disasters after a great start. His recent release, ‘Nakshatram’ was super flop at box-office. He has pinned all his hopes on this film to make a comeback. Let us see how the movie was?

Story-line:

Jawaan is all about a mission named ‘Project 3’ (Octopus) which is prestigious project for Indian scientists. Jai (Sai Dharam Tej) is a jovial young guy who aspires to become a DRDO Scientist and then there is the baddie (Prasanna) who is after a mission and to get hold of it for money, he kidnaps the family of Jai and blackmails him. Rest of the story is all about how Jai saves his family as well as succeed in saving the mission.

Performances:

Sai Dharam Tej shouldered the movie totally through out the film and he came up with an energetic performance. Prasanna is terrific as the villain. Mehreen is restricted for songs and glamorous show. Rest of the characters are okay in their characters.

Analysis:

The story chosen by BVS Ravi is good but the treatment could have been different. The Mindgame concept is interesting but it would have been even better if the conflict point is well established. Looks like director is inspired by Ram Charan’s ‘Dhruva’. Second half narration is good. He failed to explain the main points clearly like what is DRDO and what is the main purpose of 'Project-3' i.e Octopus. Saidharam Tej should be appreciated for breaking out from the monotony and doing content backed films.

Technical Values:

SS Thaman has come up with an average album but the songs are not in right place. Music dominates the songs lyrics. The background score is good. Guhan’s camera work is impressive. Dialogues are well written. Editing by SR Sekhar is decent and could have been crispier. Production Values are grand.

Thumbs Up:

- Sai Dharam Tej

- Mind games

- Second half

Thumbs Down:

- First half

- Songs

- Main theme explanation

Final Verdict:

The first half is full of commercial elements. The interval bang is decent. Second half is interesting with full of mind games and is added to a good dose of action sequences. Climax could have been better. 

Overall, ‘Jawaan’ is an okay watch. 

Review by Manikick

Rating: 2.75/5

Gruham Review

Movie: Gruham

Cast: Siddharth,Andrea Jeremiah, Atul Kulkarni, Anisha Victor, Suresh and Others

Director : U. Milind Rau

Music Director: Girishh G

Cinematographer: Shreyaas Krisna

Editor Lawrence Kishore

Production company: Viacom 18 Motion Pictures,Etaki Entertainment

Certificate: A

Runtime : 137 minutes

Release  Date: 17th November 2017

Watched at Asian Cinemas, Attapur

Behind the scenes: 

Director Milind Rau and  Siddharth, who has also co-written for Gruham, came with a bold and smart horror movie. The film has already released in Tamil with the title Aval and  in Hindi as The house next door.  Let’s see the how the film was?

Story-Line: 

Krishna (Siddharth) is happy with his wife Lakshmi (Andrea Jeremiah) in a detached location in Himalayas. Paul (Atul Kulkarni) move into their next door and it has a history as old as 80 years. The history is very scary and even the present events points to the past and help us unfolding the mystery of what happened and why it needs to be stopped from happening now again.  Doctor Prasad (Suresh), a psychiatrist tries to aide an young girl, Jennifer (Anisha Victor), daughter of Paul. In his attempts to treat her he unfolds the major demon that is controlling the ghosts and why is it doing so. You have watch the events unfold on screen to completely unravel the mystery.

Performances:

Siddharth proved the actor in him once again. His performance during the last 15 minutes, is a highlight in the film. He doesn't let his body language or his facial expressions deviate from the story. He does perform well in scary scenes too. Anisha Victor performance gives the required punch to many scenes. Her performance in pre-interval is mind blowing. Suresh gets a good character and he delivers an impact ful performance. Andrea Jeremiah, Atul Kulkarni deliver good performances and all others did their job well.

Analysis: 

Writer and director, Milind Rau doesn't really waste time he trying to set up everything. He is into the story with the opening sequences and doesn't really try to give any chance to breathe once the meat of the scares is being served. But he fails in setting up the final twist in more proper and organic manner.  The better execution and strong emotional core to the back story makes it easy watch. 

Technical Values:

Sound mix is one of the highlights in the film. In Hollywood, most of the good horror films have great sound design and Gruham film matched with that standards. Girishh's back ground score  enhance the fear factor. Camera work by Shreyaas Krishna used many colors to bring out the better impact. He adds many lights to the house in such a way that we can feel the scary ambiance. Editing by Lawrence Kishore is another highlight in the movie. He chooses to hold back the information very well, without much conflict of interest to the story. 

Thumbs Up: 

- Technical Values (Sound mix, Lighting, Editing)

- Siddharth & Anisha Victor's Performances

- Screenplay 

- Climax

Thumbs Down: 

- Romance dose

 Final Verdict:

Gruham is one of the best technical brilliancy horror films in recent times. It succeeds to a fair level and one can get good fear-ful experience watching the movie. 

Hollywood films have been trying to master in horror gene but south indian films haven't been able to compete with them in standards. Gruham attempts to do so. 

Must watchable film if you loves to watch/experience/feel serious horror films, Watch this film in good equipped theater to experience the horror feel. Don't miss it.

Review by Manikick Reviews

Rating: 3.25/5

Adirindi Review

Movie:    Adirindi

Cast: Vijay, Samantha, Kajal, Nithya Menen, SJ Suryah, Vadivelu, Satyaraj, Kovei Sarala and others

Story and Direction: Atlee

Screenplay: Atlee, Vijayendra Prasad, and S Ramana Girivasan

Producer: Sharath Marar

Music: AR Rahman

Cinematographer: GK Vishnu

Banner: North Star Entertainment

Release Date: November 9th, 2017

Watched at Galaxy Theatre, Toli chowchi

Behind the Screens:

Tamil Star hero Vijay is trying his luck to expand his market in Telugu states for a long time. Finally, one of his films, Adirindi has got the much-needed hype in Telugu due to the controversies around it. After several postponements, the movie finally released yesterday. Let us see how the movie was??

Story-line:

Doctor Bhargav (Vijay) does treatment for the poor for just Five Rupees and he is revered by one and all. And there is Magician Vijay (Vijay) who is also into kidnaps and murders. Taking Bhargav for Vijay, Police arrests the doctor. What is the motive behind these murders? How Medical Mafia pose threat to Vijay and Bhargav forms the rest of the story.

Performances:

Vijay plays three different characters in the film and he pulls all of them with ease. Kajal and Samantha are only confined to songs. Nithya Menon is good in her character. SJ Suryah is a good as a villain. Vadivelu and Sathyaraj are okay in their parts.

Analysis:

Director atlee succedded by incorporating commercialized elements in to film which mainly concentrates on social message. He relied too much on star power than his usual strengths of a strong story. A couple of controversial dialogues in the Telugu Version are muted. 

Technical Values:

Music director AR Rahman gave stunning  background score but the songs are passable. Dubbing lyrics are fully disappointing. The camera work is excellent. Editing could have been a lot better especially in the second half. Production Values are excellent.

Thumbs Up:

- Social message

- Vijay 's presence

- BGM

Thumbs Down:

- Lenghty flashback

- Dubbing lyrics

- Post interval

Final Verdict:

Adirindi is a pakka commercial film with perfect mixing of a social message.

The first half of the film has got excellent commercial value but the second half is  lengthy and predictable. The climax is also disappointing without excitement. 

Rating:   2.75/5

Next Nuvve Review

Movie: Next Nuvve

Cast: Aadi, Vaibhavi, Rashmi, Brahmaji, LB Sriram, Avasarala srinivas, Jaya prakash reddy and others

Screenplay and Direction: Prabhakar

Producer: KE Gnanvel Raja and Bunny Vas

Music: Sai Karthik

Cinematographer: Karthik Palani

Banner: V4 Movies

Certificate: A

Runtime: 140 minutes

Watched at Galaxy theatre, Toli Chowchi

Behind the Screens:

Sai Kumar’s Son Aadi, despite showing some initial promise failed to make a mark on the audience on the box- office with his subsequent films. The actor is trying to try his luck with ‘Next Nuvve’, a film arrived from Geetha Arts Stable. Let us see how the movie was??

Story-line:

Kiran (Aadi) is a TV Serial Director who takes a loan of Rs.50 Lakhs from JP (Jayaprakash Reddy) but the serial bombs and the serial incurs huge losses for Kiran. JP threatens to take away his lover (Vaibhavi) if it is not repaid a loan amount in a week. While this is happening, Kiran comes to know that he is the owner of that palace in Araku. But then, that brings new problems to Kiran. What are those Problems? How Kiran comes out of those problems, forms the rest of the story.

Performances:

For Aadhi, who is mostly confined to lover boy roles until now and now he came up with new genre- horror comedy and he came up with neat performance, unlike his previous energetic appearances. But he needs to improve in expressions. Heroine Vaibhavi is okay in her role. Rashmi is confined only to impress the masses. Brahmaji has got a superb role and he is the major highlight of the film. Prudhvi is good as a serial hero in a short role. Rest of characters did their job accordingly.

Analysis:

Debut director Prabhakar disappoined with story and screen-play. But he impressed by handling comedy scenes. Brahmaji as Sharath and Raghu Babu as RGV have entertained very well. The Ghost twist is revealed only towards the end and until then, the movie goes on without any twists and turns. 

Technical Values:

Sai karthik's music and two songs in the film are just okay. The background score which is the heart of horror thrillers is disappointing. Camera work would be better. Editor had chance to trim few cuts in second half especially. Production Values by V4 movies production house  are good.

Thumbs Up:

- Laughs

- Bramhaji

- First hour

Thumbs Down:

- Routine story

- Camera work

- Predictable story

- Heroine

Final Verdict:

'Next Nuvve’ is the re-make of Tamil Hit Movie, ‘Yaamirukka Bayamey’. Next Nuvve is a Horror Comedy film.

The horror comedy film has a routine story and the entertainment works only in parts. 

Review by Manikick 

Rating: 2.5/5