“After a hiatus of 14 years, Super Star Mahesh Babu and director Trivikram Srinivas have joined forces for the action-packed emotional drama, ‘Guntur Kaaram.’ The film, much awaited by fans, has finally hit theaters worldwide. Dive into our review to discover how it fares.
Plot Overview:
‘Guntur Kaaram’ revolves around Vyra Vasundhara (Ramya Krishnan), who left her son Veera Venkata Ramana (Mahesh Babu) at the age of 10 following an accident. After 25 years, she becomes a Minister, and to secure her victory in the upcoming elections, her father, Venkata Swamy (Prakash Raj), urges Ramana to disassociate himself from his mother by signing papers. The narrative unfolds the mysteries surrounding the accident, Ramana’s reaction, the signing of the papers, Vasundhara’s actions, and the potential reunion.
Highlights:
Mahesh Babu seamlessly steps into his highly anticipated role, portraying a rough and rugged style complemented by the captivating Guntur dialect. His charismatic energy brings every frame to life, offering a delightful experience for his devoted fanbase.
Prakash Raj, perfectly cast in ‘Guntur Kaaram,’ delivers a commendable performance in dual roles as the minister and Mahesh Babu’s grandfather. The on-screen chemistry between the two adds a significant layer to the film.
Despite limited screen time in a story centered around her character, Ramya Krishnan delivers a subtle yet impactful performance, leaving a lasting impression.
The banter and comedic exchanges between Mahesh Babu and Vennela Kishore create genuine moments of laughter, although other cast members deliver performances of average merit.
Drawbacks:
The film’s central weakness lies in its narrative, with Trivikram falling short in crafting a compelling storyline and a more robust screenplay. Emotional scenes suffer from lackluster writing, impacting overall engagement.
‘Guntur Kaaram’ is burdened with unnecessary scenes featuring characters contributing little to the overarching plot. The underutilization of talented actors adds to the film’s shortcomings.
Despite a promising start, the first half loses momentum as it nears the interval. Hopes for an impressive latter half are dashed, emphasizing the need for Trivikram’s focus on script and screenplay development.
Musical compositions, while acceptable, fail to rise above mediocrity. However, Mahesh Babu’s dance sequences with Sreeleela offer a pleasant diversion for fans.
Technical Aspects:
Trivikram Srinivas, in both writing and directing, falls short of leaving a lasting impact. A more resonant and audience-connecting storyline could have significantly enhanced the film’s overall appeal. Thaman’s musical contribution, unfortunately, falls below expectations.
While Manoj Paramahamsa’s cinematography meets satisfactory standards, editor Navin Nooli has ample room for improvement, particularly in trimming unnecessary scenes. The producers’ substantial investment ensures a visually rich appearance for the film.
Verdict:
In conclusion, ‘Guntur Kaaram’ manages to entertain in parts, relying heavily on Mahesh Babu’s screen presence, accent, and one-liners. However, its drawbacks, including a thin storyline, sluggish screenplay, and superfluous scenes, may limit its broader appeal. While ‘Guntur Kaaram’ may not impress all sections of the audience this Sankranthi season, Mahesh Babu fans may find it watchable thanks to the actor’s one-man show in an energetic and charismatic avatar.”