Kandireega Movie Review

Story:

Seenu (Ram), who didn't even complete his graduation comes to city with an aim to complete degree. But he falls for Shruti (Hansika) at the first sight and comes to know that she is facing problem with a thug Bhavani (Sonu Sood), who wants to marry her against her wish. Seenu confronts Bhavani and a challenge from Bhavani gives an opportunity for Seenu to win Shruti's love. One Seenu gets over Bhavani, he falls into a bigger problem called Rajanna (Jaya Prakash Reddy). Rajanna's daughter Sandhya (Aksha) loves Seenu at first sight and asks her father to get her married to him. Now, Seenu has to use his brains to get out of this problem as he knows that sheer muscle power isn't enough to get over Rajanna.

Analysis:

Kandireega is a routine fare in which the protagonist can beat hundreds of goons at will. When a problem arises where he can't just flex his muscles, the protagonist falls on mind games and tricks to fool the villains. This is the success formula that was used in many films like Dhee, Ready and to some extent in Brindavanam too.

The first half races ahead with not much story. Director filled the film with good comedy and entertaining elements to keep the audience interested. However, the film goes overboard towards the interval, where the hero does fight after fight to prove his strength to both villain and heroine. Things gets settled when the hero starts to use his brain. Few characters in the film take absolute U turn in this hour and makes this a laugh riot.

Even though the scenes and characters that we see on screen are familiar, we won't complaint as the movie entertains to the maximum. Director did well to keep the audience focused with few screenplay tricks and made the better use of most of the star cast to inject comedy. There are times where the director tries too much to make it a comedy caper but it is covered by the performances.

If this film has a better audio and better looking heroines it would have worked out better. Compromise on few things may affect its prospects. Nevertheless Kandireega works due to the funny moments and ample entertainment.

Performances:

Ram is energetic as usual but gives a feeling that e\he is talking and doing so much for his frame and age. Director should have toned down action part and massy dialogues to make this character more believable. Hansika is on the heavier side and looked elder to Ram in few scenes. She is not at all pleasing in few scenes. Aksha did well with the Telangana accent but she too suffers bad looks in this movie.

Sonu Sood character has two shades in this film. He is brilliant and perhaps the hero of this film. In some frames he looked handsome and fierce than Ram. Jaya Prakash Reddy is good in a routine role. Raghu Babu is okay. Brahmanandam rocked in one scene. Rest of the star cast did well within limitations.

Tehnicalities:

Dialogues are good in comedic scenes but could've been better in the conversations between Ram and Sonu Sood. Music by Thaman is not up to the mark. Except Champakamala... none of the songs have repeat value. Andrew's cinematography is fine and so is the editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao. He should have trimmed it as it lasted for almost 2 hour 45 minutes. Production values are okay.

Debutante Santosh Srinivas did well to make his debut count. He can handle commercial entertainers with panache. He also has a good sense of screenplay which comes handy in long run.

Plus Points:

- Sonu Sood's performance
- Ram energy
- Comedy

Minus points:

- Goes overboard in action sequences
- Deja vu feel in the film
- Music
- Hansika

Final Word: This Kandireega's sting is sweet and fun!

Box office predictions: Dhada's dismal show will benefit this movie at the box office. Dearth of good Telugu movies in the recent past would also help the course. Kandireega should be a winner all the way.

Kandireega Review rating: 3/5
Banner: Sri Sai Ganesh Productions
Cast: Ram, Hansika Motwani, Aksha, Sonu Sood,
Music: Thaman S
Producer: Bellamkonda Suresh
Director: Santosh Srinivas