'Rakhi' Review: Emotional and Hysterical Game on Action Ground
Film : Rakhi
Rating : 3.25/5
Banner : Durga Arts
Cast : NTR, Ileana, Charmy, Chandramohan, Kota, MS Narayana, Brahmanandam, Kondavalasa, Saranya, Shiyaji Shinde, Suhasini, Sameer and Prakash Raj
Art : Aravind
Music : Devi Sree Prasad
Action : Stunt Shiva
Editing : Shankar
Producer : KL Narayana
Story-Screenplay-Direction : Krishna Vamshi
Release Date : 22nd Dec 2006
Krishna Vamshi repeated his ‘Khadgam’ style in rolling titles on screen. Even the titles in the beginning are worth mentioning as they depict the pictures of powerful women who brought glory to Indian society. Well, that implies the theme of the film- ‘the women element’. Even at the end, the famous saying, ‘Yatra Naryasthu Pujyanthe Ramanthey tathra devataaha’ freezes on screen. Entire film is compactly packed as emotional, sentiment and hysterical action drama.
The Story
Rama Krishna aka Rakhee (NTR) is the son of a Railway Station Master (Chandra Mohan). Rakhee’s grandfather (Kota) was a retired Railway Coolie. The family holds great respect on Indian Railways and even Rakhee wishes to get into Railway Service.
Tripura (Ileana) is a reporter in Sri Devi TV. She is highly concerned about dowry deaths, harassments on women and flesh trade. She also gets into some sting operations in those lines.
Gowri (Charmy) is the sister-in-law to Rakhee and she hails from a village.
Above all, Gayatri (Mamatha) is the only sister to Rakhee. Rakhee loves her a lot and she reciprocates in same way. In an arranged way, Gayatri gets married to a guy who awaits Visa to fly America. Though difficult, Gayatri’s father Chandra Mohan gives a dowry of Rs. 10 lakhs to the groom’s family. But, ordeals start for Gayatri after stepping into new house. Gayatri’s husband gets another match that promises Rs. 1 Crore as dowry. Luring by that, Gayatri’s husband along with in-laws kills her by setting fire. They show this hardcore murder as accident from the eyes of law.
With the brutal killing of his sister, Rakhee turns mild first, wild next and for the reason of getting beguiled he sets fire to entire family of Gayatri’s in-laws. He continues the same by setting fire to any one who harms, harasses, molests, rapes or kills any girl. All that he does is throwing a plastic bag of petrol on convicts and dropping a lighted match stick on them. He hides from law and keeps on committing those serial murders. He turns a hero of ladies. Women Organizations support him. Then Meenakshi Iyer (Suhasini) comes into scene as special officer to deal with Rakhee’s case.
Rest of the film has to be watched on screen.
Performances:
NTR is at his best in performance. He performed as an actor but not as ‘star’. Mere ‘hero-worship’ is kept aside at least in this film and he acted with all required histrionics. He is good at dances although grown plump. There were a few dialogues in the film that quote him as ‘Bondam’ and ‘Fatty’. It’s high time and he has to take utmost care of his body.
Ileana is good and looked voluptuous in a few songs. She performed considerably well.
Charmy is glowing in this film and gave good visual treat through songs. Costumes used On Charmy are interesting and exquisite.
Suhasini at times appeared in overdose while enacting emotions. Krishna Vamshi recalled Lakshmi’s character in ‘Murari’ whilst depicting histrionics.
Brahmanandam and Sunil could spill little comedy in the shortest time they appeared on screen. Other than that there is no big comedy in this film.
Shayaji Shinde’s villainy is for a short time and the real villains in this film are the guys who harm girls.
Editing by Shankar is subtle and immersing. Krishna Vamshi’s screenplay and direction is impressive this time. But he would have worked little well on comedy track and logic in action episodes.
Highlights:
Krishna Vamshi rightly used current affairs for this subject. He has shown a scene similar to the notorious Manohar of Vijaywada who killed a girl by name Sri Lakshmi as she didn’t love her. Even the names of those characters are tagged similar (as Madhukar and Srilatha).
Satires on ‘today’s media’ are shot again like in any other contemporary film.
NTR’s hysterical performance in burial ground and the scene carried with sentimental and horror elements deserves a mention.
Climax scene in which NTR gives emotional discourse in Court receives claps.
Brahmanandam’s comedy in the live show of his channel with sari spilsl laughs
It would have been better this way:
· Suhasini, instead of carrying Rakhee along with a battalion of police to kill a Minister, she would have simply kept quiet letting Rakee accomplish that silently. By doing so, Suhasini’s characterization as sincere police officer wouldn’t have spoiled.
Analysis:
The first half of the film is interesting with a blend of little comedy, emotion, sentiment and romance. Even the Interval Shot is impressive. But the second half runs on hard emotional action roads with a few illogical elements at times.
Comedy is lacking in proper dose in this film and the subject needs heaviness anyway. It’s a film with message orientation on violent grounds.
Rakhee says that the violent revolt is the only way to keep society free from rapes, harassments, and flesh trade as well as dowry deaths.
The film can be received by female folks although violence is heavy.
To sum up, the film stands to be the better film when compared to many of NTR’s recent films. It runs on current affairs depicting the sorrowful stories of many Indian girls of contemporary world.
Bottom Line: Watch for Emotional and Hysterical Dose.
(SiraSri can be reached at sirasri@gmail.com)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rakhi’ Review-2 :Highly Inflammable; but doesn't Ignite
Film: Rakhi
Rating: 3/5
Cast: NT Rama Rao Jr, Ileana, Charmee, Chandramohan, Kota Srinivas Rao, Sharanya, Suhasini, Sharath Babu, Prakash Raj, Uttej, Suneel, Siyajee Shinde, etc
Art: Ravindra
Effects: EFX Team
Camera: S Gopal Reddy
Editing: Shankar
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Screenplay & Direction: Krishna Vamshi
Producer: Dr KL Narayana
Message film with a mass orientation! Rakhee, the latest film of NTR Jr and Krishna Vamshi attempted to spread on a message with mass appeal. The film which talks against the atrocities on women draws flak and has been over done at most occasions. Krishna Vamshi seems to have picked up inspiration from Tamil director Shankar to built a commercial film with the story coating around the social evil. But unlike Shankar, Krishna Vamshi is a bit down in delivering both commercially and socially motivating film.
Except for few ingredients like special effects and editing, nothing much impresses the audience. For a film that talks about the fight against the social evils within the commercial formula, it requires contribution from all the departments, more over the presentation has to be subtle and let visuals talk. Obviously having hero like NTR Jr – who has done good job in spelling out the lengthy dialogues in single shots – the film has become verbose and couldn’t make any visual impact. So, it may run as an average show.
The story
The film is about the fight of a single man against the social evil – atrocities against women. Remember Oke Okkadu or even Aparichitudu, where a single man takes on the big-wigs in the system to stop the evil. Similarly, our hero takes on everybody who commits sins on women, and he eliminates them by pouring petrol and burning them alive! If this could be the solution to end the atrocities against women, how good it would have been for the women folk of this country (sic).
Ramakrishna alias Rakhee (NTR Jr) is son of a station master (Chandramohan) and adores is sister very much. He would do anything for his sister, who is studying in college. Rakhee’s neighbour is the damsel Bala Tripura Sundari (Ileana) working as a Television journalist. She is very much depressed by the fact that women are being ill-treated by everyone in this society and always on the hunt to bring out stories in her channel that portray violence on women.
Rakhee applies for station master job in railways and secures it. Another applicant Suneel also tries for the same job but doesn’t get it. He offers to give Rakhee Rs 3 lakh if he sacrifices his job to him. We should check up with the Railways if we could trade our jobs to others who have not passed the entrance exam?
Rakhee being a gentleman respects all the women folk except Ileana with whom he dances and plays naughty games, loves his sister and develops affection towards her friend also. One incident that ignites the mind of our Rakhee is the death of his sister’s friend. She is killed in college brutally (remember the Vijayawada incident where a boy kills his classmate because she doesn’t love him). Krishna Vamshi tries to bring alive this incident and has done well.
But it is the marriage and death of his dear sister which makes Rakhee highly inflammable. Rakhee’s sister is married to a greedy man with Rs 10 lakh as dowry. But the greedy man kills her to get married for larger dowry to another girl. Rakhee’s sister is burnt alive and she dies of burns. Taking the cue from his brother-in-law, Rakhee becomes highly inflammable and starts burning alive all the people who commit sins against women.
Even as Rakhee goes on rampage burning all the persons who have harassed women, we are introduced to another important character DCP Meenakshi Iyer (Suhasini). This character, though important, has not been portrayed well. In fact she overacts and has made the role of the police officer look silly and at time funny. In deed it is a wonder what makes Krishna Vamshi portray a women police officer so ridiculous!
The DCP is behind Rakhee. Rakhee himself surrenders to her just to kill the person who had hacked his sister’s friend in the college. Meanwhile, the film is given political angle as well. One of the victims of Rakhee is the son of a minister (Siyajee Shinde). The minister in front of his son’s dead body kicks the DCP (this kicking shot is in bad taste) and the Iyer DCP gets angry. Finally she brings Rakhee to his house and allows him to kill the minister while hundreds of policemen support him. This is something which is unimaginable. In fact no one complains against the DCP for support a criminal in his deeds!
Final twist is that the judge (Prakash Raj) having understood the good deeds (killing of 48 people) resigns from his job and vows to fight his case in any court of law.
Performances
It is usual ‘arrogance’ that has been exhibited by NTR Jr in the film. But the best part was on three to four occasions he delivers lengthy 1-2 minutes dialogues without a cut. Apart from this, nothing much to mention, but he keeps to image of playing to the gallery.
Ileana has role to play in this film, not just moving her hips for the tunes, but as the television journalist she had a chance to prove her acting capabilities. Ileana fails to act.
Charmee is beautiful and has very little role to play. Sushasini plays the role of a police officer, but over acts and looks foolish. Other like Chandramohan, Kota, Brahmanandam, etc done their role with ease, but don’t contribute anything for the film. After watching the film you wonder why Krishna Vamshi had roped in Sharath Babu, Sharanya, Prakash Raj and Brahmaji. They have very insignificant role and it could have been done by any other junior actors.
Technically the special effects of burning people alive looks natural and have been done with precision by the EFX Team. Editing has definitely helped the film which would have otherwise been much more boring. Few cuts of Shankar definitely leave you wondering. Music of Devi Sri Prasad is passable, noteworthy song is the “Rakhi.. Rakhi…”
Krishna Vamshi has to remember the fact that he had created a mark for himself right from the very first film – Gulaabi – and need not have to imitate somebody. Though we can never point out that he has imitated Shankar, but the selection of story and trying to present it in a regular commercial format is an attempt to capture audience a la Shankar. What was required is right dose at right proportions, but you have either too much violence or too much of sentiment, which leaves lots of gaps in the film. Entertainment is missing in right measure.
Last word: Maybe this mass film could appeal to women… but the violence depicted might make them also stay away from the theatres!
Movie Reviewed by Sree
source:www.greatandhra.com
Film : Rakhi
Rating : 3.25/5
Banner : Durga Arts
Cast : NTR, Ileana, Charmy, Chandramohan, Kota, MS Narayana, Brahmanandam, Kondavalasa, Saranya, Shiyaji Shinde, Suhasini, Sameer and Prakash Raj
Art : Aravind
Music : Devi Sree Prasad
Action : Stunt Shiva
Editing : Shankar
Producer : KL Narayana
Story-Screenplay-Direction : Krishna Vamshi
Release Date : 22nd Dec 2006
Krishna Vamshi repeated his ‘Khadgam’ style in rolling titles on screen. Even the titles in the beginning are worth mentioning as they depict the pictures of powerful women who brought glory to Indian society. Well, that implies the theme of the film- ‘the women element’. Even at the end, the famous saying, ‘Yatra Naryasthu Pujyanthe Ramanthey tathra devataaha’ freezes on screen. Entire film is compactly packed as emotional, sentiment and hysterical action drama.
The Story
Rama Krishna aka Rakhee (NTR) is the son of a Railway Station Master (Chandra Mohan). Rakhee’s grandfather (Kota) was a retired Railway Coolie. The family holds great respect on Indian Railways and even Rakhee wishes to get into Railway Service.
Tripura (Ileana) is a reporter in Sri Devi TV. She is highly concerned about dowry deaths, harassments on women and flesh trade. She also gets into some sting operations in those lines.
Gowri (Charmy) is the sister-in-law to Rakhee and she hails from a village.
Above all, Gayatri (Mamatha) is the only sister to Rakhee. Rakhee loves her a lot and she reciprocates in same way. In an arranged way, Gayatri gets married to a guy who awaits Visa to fly America. Though difficult, Gayatri’s father Chandra Mohan gives a dowry of Rs. 10 lakhs to the groom’s family. But, ordeals start for Gayatri after stepping into new house. Gayatri’s husband gets another match that promises Rs. 1 Crore as dowry. Luring by that, Gayatri’s husband along with in-laws kills her by setting fire. They show this hardcore murder as accident from the eyes of law.
With the brutal killing of his sister, Rakhee turns mild first, wild next and for the reason of getting beguiled he sets fire to entire family of Gayatri’s in-laws. He continues the same by setting fire to any one who harms, harasses, molests, rapes or kills any girl. All that he does is throwing a plastic bag of petrol on convicts and dropping a lighted match stick on them. He hides from law and keeps on committing those serial murders. He turns a hero of ladies. Women Organizations support him. Then Meenakshi Iyer (Suhasini) comes into scene as special officer to deal with Rakhee’s case.
Rest of the film has to be watched on screen.
Performances:
NTR is at his best in performance. He performed as an actor but not as ‘star’. Mere ‘hero-worship’ is kept aside at least in this film and he acted with all required histrionics. He is good at dances although grown plump. There were a few dialogues in the film that quote him as ‘Bondam’ and ‘Fatty’. It’s high time and he has to take utmost care of his body.
Ileana is good and looked voluptuous in a few songs. She performed considerably well.
Charmy is glowing in this film and gave good visual treat through songs. Costumes used On Charmy are interesting and exquisite.
Suhasini at times appeared in overdose while enacting emotions. Krishna Vamshi recalled Lakshmi’s character in ‘Murari’ whilst depicting histrionics.
Brahmanandam and Sunil could spill little comedy in the shortest time they appeared on screen. Other than that there is no big comedy in this film.
Shayaji Shinde’s villainy is for a short time and the real villains in this film are the guys who harm girls.
Editing by Shankar is subtle and immersing. Krishna Vamshi’s screenplay and direction is impressive this time. But he would have worked little well on comedy track and logic in action episodes.
Highlights:
Krishna Vamshi rightly used current affairs for this subject. He has shown a scene similar to the notorious Manohar of Vijaywada who killed a girl by name Sri Lakshmi as she didn’t love her. Even the names of those characters are tagged similar (as Madhukar and Srilatha).
Satires on ‘today’s media’ are shot again like in any other contemporary film.
NTR’s hysterical performance in burial ground and the scene carried with sentimental and horror elements deserves a mention.
Climax scene in which NTR gives emotional discourse in Court receives claps.
Brahmanandam’s comedy in the live show of his channel with sari spilsl laughs
It would have been better this way:
· Suhasini, instead of carrying Rakhee along with a battalion of police to kill a Minister, she would have simply kept quiet letting Rakee accomplish that silently. By doing so, Suhasini’s characterization as sincere police officer wouldn’t have spoiled.
Analysis:
The first half of the film is interesting with a blend of little comedy, emotion, sentiment and romance. Even the Interval Shot is impressive. But the second half runs on hard emotional action roads with a few illogical elements at times.
Comedy is lacking in proper dose in this film and the subject needs heaviness anyway. It’s a film with message orientation on violent grounds.
Rakhee says that the violent revolt is the only way to keep society free from rapes, harassments, and flesh trade as well as dowry deaths.
The film can be received by female folks although violence is heavy.
To sum up, the film stands to be the better film when compared to many of NTR’s recent films. It runs on current affairs depicting the sorrowful stories of many Indian girls of contemporary world.
Bottom Line: Watch for Emotional and Hysterical Dose.
(SiraSri can be reached at sirasri@gmail.com)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rakhi’ Review-2 :Highly Inflammable; but doesn't Ignite
Film: Rakhi
Rating: 3/5
Cast: NT Rama Rao Jr, Ileana, Charmee, Chandramohan, Kota Srinivas Rao, Sharanya, Suhasini, Sharath Babu, Prakash Raj, Uttej, Suneel, Siyajee Shinde, etc
Art: Ravindra
Effects: EFX Team
Camera: S Gopal Reddy
Editing: Shankar
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Screenplay & Direction: Krishna Vamshi
Producer: Dr KL Narayana
Message film with a mass orientation! Rakhee, the latest film of NTR Jr and Krishna Vamshi attempted to spread on a message with mass appeal. The film which talks against the atrocities on women draws flak and has been over done at most occasions. Krishna Vamshi seems to have picked up inspiration from Tamil director Shankar to built a commercial film with the story coating around the social evil. But unlike Shankar, Krishna Vamshi is a bit down in delivering both commercially and socially motivating film.
Except for few ingredients like special effects and editing, nothing much impresses the audience. For a film that talks about the fight against the social evils within the commercial formula, it requires contribution from all the departments, more over the presentation has to be subtle and let visuals talk. Obviously having hero like NTR Jr – who has done good job in spelling out the lengthy dialogues in single shots – the film has become verbose and couldn’t make any visual impact. So, it may run as an average show.
The story
The film is about the fight of a single man against the social evil – atrocities against women. Remember Oke Okkadu or even Aparichitudu, where a single man takes on the big-wigs in the system to stop the evil. Similarly, our hero takes on everybody who commits sins on women, and he eliminates them by pouring petrol and burning them alive! If this could be the solution to end the atrocities against women, how good it would have been for the women folk of this country (sic).
Ramakrishna alias Rakhee (NTR Jr) is son of a station master (Chandramohan) and adores is sister very much. He would do anything for his sister, who is studying in college. Rakhee’s neighbour is the damsel Bala Tripura Sundari (Ileana) working as a Television journalist. She is very much depressed by the fact that women are being ill-treated by everyone in this society and always on the hunt to bring out stories in her channel that portray violence on women.
Rakhee applies for station master job in railways and secures it. Another applicant Suneel also tries for the same job but doesn’t get it. He offers to give Rakhee Rs 3 lakh if he sacrifices his job to him. We should check up with the Railways if we could trade our jobs to others who have not passed the entrance exam?
Rakhee being a gentleman respects all the women folk except Ileana with whom he dances and plays naughty games, loves his sister and develops affection towards her friend also. One incident that ignites the mind of our Rakhee is the death of his sister’s friend. She is killed in college brutally (remember the Vijayawada incident where a boy kills his classmate because she doesn’t love him). Krishna Vamshi tries to bring alive this incident and has done well.
But it is the marriage and death of his dear sister which makes Rakhee highly inflammable. Rakhee’s sister is married to a greedy man with Rs 10 lakh as dowry. But the greedy man kills her to get married for larger dowry to another girl. Rakhee’s sister is burnt alive and she dies of burns. Taking the cue from his brother-in-law, Rakhee becomes highly inflammable and starts burning alive all the people who commit sins against women.
Even as Rakhee goes on rampage burning all the persons who have harassed women, we are introduced to another important character DCP Meenakshi Iyer (Suhasini). This character, though important, has not been portrayed well. In fact she overacts and has made the role of the police officer look silly and at time funny. In deed it is a wonder what makes Krishna Vamshi portray a women police officer so ridiculous!
The DCP is behind Rakhee. Rakhee himself surrenders to her just to kill the person who had hacked his sister’s friend in the college. Meanwhile, the film is given political angle as well. One of the victims of Rakhee is the son of a minister (Siyajee Shinde). The minister in front of his son’s dead body kicks the DCP (this kicking shot is in bad taste) and the Iyer DCP gets angry. Finally she brings Rakhee to his house and allows him to kill the minister while hundreds of policemen support him. This is something which is unimaginable. In fact no one complains against the DCP for support a criminal in his deeds!
Final twist is that the judge (Prakash Raj) having understood the good deeds (killing of 48 people) resigns from his job and vows to fight his case in any court of law.
Performances
It is usual ‘arrogance’ that has been exhibited by NTR Jr in the film. But the best part was on three to four occasions he delivers lengthy 1-2 minutes dialogues without a cut. Apart from this, nothing much to mention, but he keeps to image of playing to the gallery.
Ileana has role to play in this film, not just moving her hips for the tunes, but as the television journalist she had a chance to prove her acting capabilities. Ileana fails to act.
Charmee is beautiful and has very little role to play. Sushasini plays the role of a police officer, but over acts and looks foolish. Other like Chandramohan, Kota, Brahmanandam, etc done their role with ease, but don’t contribute anything for the film. After watching the film you wonder why Krishna Vamshi had roped in Sharath Babu, Sharanya, Prakash Raj and Brahmaji. They have very insignificant role and it could have been done by any other junior actors.
Technically the special effects of burning people alive looks natural and have been done with precision by the EFX Team. Editing has definitely helped the film which would have otherwise been much more boring. Few cuts of Shankar definitely leave you wondering. Music of Devi Sri Prasad is passable, noteworthy song is the “Rakhi.. Rakhi…”
Krishna Vamshi has to remember the fact that he had created a mark for himself right from the very first film – Gulaabi – and need not have to imitate somebody. Though we can never point out that he has imitated Shankar, but the selection of story and trying to present it in a regular commercial format is an attempt to capture audience a la Shankar. What was required is right dose at right proportions, but you have either too much violence or too much of sentiment, which leaves lots of gaps in the film. Entertainment is missing in right measure.
Last word: Maybe this mass film could appeal to women… but the violence depicted might make them also stay away from the theatres!
Movie Reviewed by Sree
source:www.greatandhra.com
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