Mini-reviews: part 2 (Telugu edition)

Continuation of my mini-reviews pt 1

These are some Telugu films I've seen (that I could remember :D )

Avakai Biryani (2008)

Story about a Hindu girl, Lakshmi(Bindu Madhavi), and a Muslim guy, Akbar (Kamal Kamaraju) falling in love. Lakshi's father hates Muslims because of his past experience. Lakshmi's family move to the village after losing everything and ends up making pickled mangoes to make money. Akbar is an orphan and a rickshaw driver.



Storyline is nothing new but I mainly saw this film because the producer is Sekar Kammula who I adore. What I did like about the film is the two leads. It was great to see two new faces and took place in a village. There is gorgeous cinematography. I just loved how everything flowed together, just a good-feel film for me :D



Chandamama (2007)

Mahalakshmi (Kajal Agarwal) has an arranged marriage with Dhorababu (Siva Balaji). He is the sweetest guy that you've ever met. Therefore, Mahalakshmi has to tell him the truth of her past. She once loved a guy name Kishore (Navdeep) but he wasn't interested in marrying her and had cheated her. Since Dhorababu deserves better, she thought she would tell him the truth. Learning this, Dhorababu seeks to find Kishore. He learns that Kishore and Mahalaxmi had a misunderstanding and that Kishore still love Mahalaxmi. Dhorababu want to unite the two lovers. In the process, Mahalaxmi's childhood friend, Rani (Sindhu Menon) ends up falling for Dhorababu.



It is a fun film. It gives you the same feel as Ashta Chamma. However, it is not as good. What Chandamama lacked were adorable couples.

Kishore was a selfish prankster. Mahalaxmi was a bit flaky and annoyed the heck out of me. I really didn't care whether or not they got together or not. What I do love is Dhorababu! Why do the girls always like the jerks?

I couldn't believe that this Siva was the same guy in Aarya who played the annoying Ajay! How funny that both Shiva and Navdeep played Ajay :D I absolutely looooved Siva. He reminded me of a moustached Surya back in his earlier films. Navdeep is a cutie but he tried a bit too hard to be funny and slick in his role, which didn't make me like him anymore. I have yet to find a role of Kajal's that I really liked. I don't really have a problem with her, it's the roles that she chooses. Sindhu cracked me up in her short role.

Overall, worth a watch!



Kalavar King (2010)

Rajesh (Nikhil) is street smart and goes around town making loans, after loans, after loans. Shruti (Shwetha Prasand) accidently drops her chain necklace in Rajesh's home. She looks for it everywhere because Narendar (Ajay) gave Shruti the chain necklace and is in love with her. Rajesh must find the chain necklace since he has taken it for a "loan." In the meantime, Rajesh is forcing Shruti to marry him.



It's another case of forced marriages when the heroine doesn't want to marry the villian. However, this story is a bit different in the case that the hero and heroine do not fall in love with each other and that's the reason why she doesn't want to marry the villian. She is scared of the villian and just wants out. The hero realized that he made a big mistake in trading in the necklace.

There were cute moments and Nikhil was cute dancing but other than that,. Not really worth watching. It was good to see him after Happy Days. I mainly watched it for Swetha but she looked really bad in the film. Nothing like how she was in her Telugu debut film, Kotha Bangaru Lokam.



Kantri (2008)

The orphan Kantri (NTR JR) is fearless but helps out the orphanage since he can understand the pain. He later joins forces with the don Pothu Raju (Prakash Raj) only to find out that he is the long lost son to the don.



The film has a lot of twists and the love story between Kantri and Varalakshmi (Hansika Motwani) and Priya (Tanisha Mukherjee) was only a backdrop. It added to more of the confusion. I didn't really care for the romances at all. Varalakshmi was really annoying and whiny. I preferred Priya's personality.

Overall, I did enjoy the conness of Kantri. He was smooth and slick, loved his thorough plan and twisted things around with Pothu Raju. Again, I looooove NTR Jr's voice and always a pleasure to see him dance!



Lakshyam (2007)

ACP Bose (Jagapati Babu) is ah honest and sincere police officer who is happily married and lives with his parents and younger brother Chandu (Gopichand). Chandu and Indu (Anushka) are college students and fall in love with each other. Villian Section Shankar (Yashpal Sharma) kills anyone who comes in his way and does not leave any evidence or witness behind. With the help of a backstabbing police officer and politian, he takes loans from the bank and blames it on Bose. Everyone turns on Bose. Chandu does his best to prove to everyone that his brother is not crooked.



Worth a watch! Some scenes were slow but overall, it's a good film. I liked the fact that I was able to see Gopichand in a lead role instead of the supporting cast or a villian. The beginning was focused a little too much on the love angle but glad it didn't take that long for the storyline to kick in. I do think how they met was cute and fun. Anuksha reminds me so much of one of my favorite 80s Bollywood actress, Poonam Dhillon.



Style (2006)

Ganesh (Prabhu Deva) is one of the best dancers ever. This causes his rival, Anthony to become jealous. A tragic accident has caused Ganesh to lose both of his legs. With the encouragement of his loving sister, Priya (Kamalinee Mukherjee), he looks for another dancer who could train since dancing is his passion. Raghava (Raghava Lawrence) loves dancing but works cleaning up in a dance school in Vizag along with his four friends. No one ever recognizes his talent. Ganesh sees the dancing potential of Raghava and his friends on tv and wants to train them to compete with Anthony in the dance competition.



This is what I call fun! I loooooved this film. That's what you get for putting two of the best choreographers from India in one film -- Prabhu Deva & Lawrence! OMFG! From the beginning, I was hooked. Sure, the ending could've been done better but I am easy to overlook stuff like that.

The starcast is huge itself. Well, to me, that is. Kamalinee Mukherjee is one of my favorite actresses. Then add in Charmy and Raja too. I loved it! The dancing was top-notch.

Admittedly, I have to say that Style could possibly be in my top 10 films. I mean if you have a film about dancing, this is it!

PS - I'm starting to have a slight inexplicable crush on Lawrence. I need to seek more of his films.

Aarya 2 - Allu Arjun's best acting

When I found out Aarya 2 was ready to pre-order at Bhavani, I made sure I hurry up and get me a copy. Honestly, I was shock that it was available on dvd quickly. I had to wait a year for a few of his earlier films.

Volga? Who? Never seen the distributor before. Next time, let's get Volga to get more Telugu films on dvd with English subs ASAP! When I go to Hyderabad (wonder when that will be), I will have to visit Volga and tell them I appreciate them :)



Aarya 2 has been the hardest Allu Arjun film for me to write about because of the complex character that Aarya has. The other films I have blogged about were fun, fun, and more fun -- Aarya, Bunny, Happy, Desamuduru

I did not know how to even start writing up because I did not want to give out too many spoilers. I tried my best to do a decent review.

Since I spelled Aarya with an extra "a" last time, I am going to be consistent with the extra "a" in this review.



In addition, Aarya 2 is in *no* way a sequel to Aarya.
The same character names are used again - Aarya, Ajay, & Geetha. There is a somewhat-semi love triangle like Aarya, which to me means keeping the theme and the passionate-fan love for Aarya.

However, the stalkerish theme of Aarya was used but masala-mixed and bumped up to another level.



The Michael Jackson tribute was adorable. He is Bunny's dance idol. If you haven't seen his MJ tribute at the South Scope Awards, do watch it!



Film starts off with a guy being rushed to the emergency room at the hospital.



Ajay narrates the story of Aarya with the strange friendship bond they share since childhood.



Aarya & Ajay have been "friendemies" since childhood.



Ajay (Navdeep) just cannot seem to get rid of Aarya! He thinks of Aarya is an annoying nuisance.



I have never seen Navdeep in any other film before. He is attractive and does a great job. I wouldn't mind watching another film of his.



Aarya loves Geetha and his BFF Ajay.



My reason for watching?
The Stylish Star, ALLU ARJUN



Geetha is the center of attention for both Aarya & Ajay.



Kajal was good as portraying the dislikeable Geetha.



Shanti is so in love with Aarya but he is Mr. Perfect



Shraddha Das is cute and has a short role. I have never seen her in any other films before either.



Brahmanandam plays Mr. Dasavathaaram (Brahmanandam), the HR manager of the firm. He provides some comedic fun, who I enjoy seeing in films.



Mukesh Rishi plays Raji, Geetha's strict father. He's no stranger in films.



I am sooooo in love with the music!!! "Ringa Ringa" is my ringtone for my cell phone :)



Song #1 - "Mr. Perfect"
Aarya has a split personality to show Ajay that he has no flaws. No one knows Aarya's true identity except for Ajay because Aarya transforms to Mr. Perfect. Hip hop Bunny is still adorable and hot :)












Song #2 - "Uppenantha Ee"
Aarya is so in love with Geetha.
Bunny makes a slow song sexy.












Song #3 - "My Love" aka "My Love is Gone"
Aarya's love is gone. Ajay and Geetha are meant to be?
OMFG, the dancing! A must-see! The caps don't do justice to the dancing!







Song #4 - "Modati Saari" aka "Baby He Loves You"
Aarya cheers up Geetha and tells her that Ajay does love her.
What a cute, adorable song!














Song #5 - "Ringa Ringa"
Aarya just have fun!
The song is off-the-chain and Bunny bust-a-move! Hot!!Yes, that's a gori as the item girl :)









Song #6 - "Karigeloga Ee"
Three's a crowd?









Just thought it'll be fun to cap the ending credits because of the bloopers and behind-the-scenes.







I don't know what it is but I find Bunny extra-sexy in this still of the song, "Uppenantha Ee." Could be that his facial expression, his passion in the song melts me! If he can make a slow song sexy, then I could just watch his drink water and melt, lol.



I love the "a" scene. Of course, A stand for Ajay because it's his company. However, A could stand for Aarya too :) This may sound corny but I like the "a" instead of " "or A" because that's how I literally write my "a" (told you it's retarded, lol)




Aarya writes his thoughts in his diary to remind him what to do



Random caps of Bunny that I just won't can't get rid of.


















Beth has a scarf fetish, kidding!!!! ;P  But she is collecting caps of stars with scarves so I thought why not just cap them? And of my favorite hottie? Why not?










Warning - slight spoilers ahead!!



In the beginning, from Ajay's point of view, you dislike Aarya because of his obsession to be Ajay's BFF. Aarya is a clingy, needy man, and wants attention. He makes you feel sorry for him by constant begging.

Deep down inside, Aarya love Ajay and Geetha, in different ways. Aarya never had anyone else in his life. All he ever really asked for is for Ajay to be his geniune friend, to love Aarya and be there for him, as Aarya does for him.

With so many split personalities from both Aarya and Ajay, I was shuffling back and forth to see who I sympathize with more? Aarya or Ajay?



In conclusion, once Aarya goes out of his way to make sure that Ajay and Geeta are together. I felt for him, especially in the "Karigeloga Ee" song. It broke my heart when Aarya cried and was willing to sacrafice his life for Ajay and Kajal.

To me, Geetha is just a very annoying, dislikeable character. She is a spoiled brat. Once she realizes who she really loves and get to know Aarya better is when I finally had a little once of like for her.



Aarya isn't so bad. If he could turn this



into this



which makes this scene one of my favorites in the film!!! Raja Reddy (Ajay) and Aarya's BFF moment. In the background, "Yeh Dosti" from Sholay is playing.






Aarya really isn't so bad himself. He just needs a hug. Come here Aarya, I'll give you a hug.



I really enjoyed the significant of the goldfish. To me, the goldfish is Aarya's only "true" friend who he did save, which is equivalent to the friendship he yearns for with Ajay.





Overall, I enjoyed it a lot!!!
Must see for Allu Arjun fans because he put his heart into it. This film is his best acting yet! Honestly, I didn't like the film, Aarya, as much as everyone else seem to like since it's a huge hit. Come on, this version takes on the name of the very famous first part. Some may be disappointed because watching Aarya 2 has deeper meaning and is more in-depth with the characters. You don't know who to feel sorry for. In a way, Aarya 2 is equivalent to Aarya on crack, to some people. But remember some do like being "high" ;P