NTR Kathanayakudu – A Fitting tribute to a legend of Telugu Cinema
- In Movie Reviews
- 09:46 AM, Jan 12, 2019
- Santhi Pasumarthi
Telling the story of most India’s most loved Kathanayaka of his time is never an easy task. He was not just loved but adored and worshipped. The recent success of Mahanati meant there will be inevitable comparisons. Director Krish Jagarlamudi pulls it off well. No one would have done better. But this still turns out to be a case of ‘great in parts but not in whole’.
To match the on-screen persona of NTR is next to impossible. That said, the person who could come close was definitely Balakrishna or Jr.NTR. Not just for the resemblances but to carry the strong 'vaachaka' element of NTR. None of the other actors in Tollywood have that. This is the story of a strong-willed, highly disciplined man who had talent, oratory skills, physique, looks, brilliant eyes, charming smile and just everything going his way. He was undoubtedly the first superstar of Indian cinema. His is a success story that has only ups and very few downs. That in itself is a challenge.
Director Krish Jagarlamudi makes sure each scene is well crafted. What stood out is the dialogue delivery of all actors involved. For many millions like me, the main reason to watch this biopic is to re-live the great man's movies once more. And there is no disappointment there.
The best part of the movie is the opening credits with the background of Kathanayaka song. The song penned by K. Sivadatta and Dr. Ramakrishna takes us to the lyrics of the yore. But what comes on the screen is a treat to the eyes. A medley of clippings, of iconic roles played by NTR. It was just breathtaking. The song is in Sanskrit and full of Samasas. One of them goes त्वदीयछायाचित्राच्छादितराजितरन्जितचित्रयवनिका meaning ‘the screen has been illuminated and colored under the umbrella of your movies’. It will not be an exaggeration to say that only NTR can inspire such lyrics and only Telugu cinema can still pull it off though it doesn’t see the need for great lyrics.
Movie starts with NTR quitting his job in Vijayawada and moving to Madras to try his luck in movies. His initial struggle till palletoori pilla and manadesam and played by Vijaya-Vauhini elders Nagireddy n Chakrapani along with LV Prasad is rightly given enough screen time.
The viewers are in for a treat with scenes of the movie that made him a star -- 'Patala Bhairavi' one of the first adventure/fantasy thrillers. The next big one is again with KV Reddy and this time the iconic role of Krishna in Mayabazar. The emotion and awe of people seeing him in that get-up is well captured. He played the role 28 times!! Sumant as ANR is outstanding and their off-screen friendship lights up the screen. Vidya Balan as his Basavatarakam is dignified. A song ‘Bantureeti koluvu’ based on Tyagaraja’s krithi penned by Sitaramasastri garu to elevate her supporting act.
His roles as Bruhannala in Nartanasala, Anji in Gundamma katha, Ravana in SitaramaKalyanam, Danaveera Soora Karna etc. expectedly make up the staple diet. Anyone would face an uphill task in picking scenes from his glorious career full of experiments n milestones but some misses rankle. Like the scene where Satyabhama kicks Krishna in Srikrishna Tulabharam. The scene is inspired from Nandi Timmana's ParijatapaharaNam and not in Bhagavatam or Harivamsham. It was a very bold step since NTR was at his peak at that time. Many heroines are shown but Smt. Jamuna is not for reasons known only to her and the makers.
The movie develops a drag as it moves on to show him becoming a peoples’ person and statesman with some repetitive scenes. But this is also where Balakrishna does better as middle-aged NTR. The scenes of Diviseema Uppena (tidal wave/storm surge during a cyclone in 1977) are heart-wrenching. It caused more than 10000 deaths. NTR n ANR spiritedly gather money for this. There is a song showing his anguish at the suffering but it’s unnecessarily (or wrongly) stretched with lot of footage on dead and homeless.
There is a long list of cameos. A daunting task indeed for the director to manage. That drag and some misses pull the movie down a little. Maybe this great man's successful life where he re-invented himself many a time didn't have enough twists to take us on an emotional ride. NTR is hailed for his contribution to Telugu identity and self-respect. He is shown receiving a Padmashri but he didn’t receive any more maybe due to his political dispensation. The run-up to formation of TDP is shown (but would have been better placed in the sequel?) and movie ends with its announcement. NCBN and YSR are already introduced. The stage is now set for Mahanayakudu that will show his political journey. That surely will have enough twists and turns, ups and downs.
Watch it re-live the glory of Telugu cinema. Watch it for good music that doesn’t obscure the lyrics and great lyrics that do justice to the situation. And for great dialogue delivery of most involved in various slangs of Telugu. This rarely happens now in Tollywood. Maybe biopics and historicals are the only way out!
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