Magadheera - Movie Review

Punchline: grand film
Genre: Romance/Action
Type: Straight
Banner: Geeta Arts

Cast: Ram Charan Teja, Kajal Agarwal, Srihari, Sunil, Brahmanandam, Sarath Babu, Rao Ramesh, Surya, Mumaith Khan, Sameer, Sekhar, Kim Sharma, Saloni & Hema

Music: MM Keeravani
Sound suvervision: Kalyani Malik
Cinematography: Senthil Kumar
Dialogues: Ratnam
Art: Ravinder
Editing: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Fights: Peter Hynes & Ram Lakshman
Styling: Rama Rajamouli
Co-producer: Bhogavally Prasad
Story: Vijayendra Prasad
Screenplay, & Direction: SS Rajamouli
Producer: Allu Arvind
Release date: 30 July 2009

Story

The story happens in the year 1609. Kala Bhairava (Ram Charan Teja) is the protector/cheif guard of Udayghad kingdom. Mitra (Kajal Agarwal) – the heir princess is in love with him. But there is a bad relative of the king who wants to marry her. Sher Khan (Srihari) plans to invade Udayghad. In the process ensued, all of them die. These four people take rebirth after 400 years in the contemporary era. Harsha (Ram Charan Teja) is a race biker. He falls in love with Indu (Kajal Agarwal). And a bad guy called Raghuveer is after her. The rest of the story is all about how they trace themselves back to the past and settle the unfinished business.

Artists Performance

Ram Charan Teja: Ram Charan’s performance in his debut film Chiruta is like a show reel of what he is capable of doing. In this movie, he gets an opportunity to do some real good performance and he performs them convincingly with effortless ease. And he had gone through tremendous physical toil in this film as it involves horse riding, sword fighting, dances and many more. His dance in Bangaru Kodipetta after the completion of Chiranjeevi’s appearance is stunning. He is gifted with a good voice and he should fine tune it further to come up with pristine Telugu diction.

Kajal Agarwal: Kajal Agarwal is the surprise pack of this movie. She never looked so gorgeous and lovely in her earlier movies. She is overwhelming in this movie. Soumya who dubbed her voice came up with fabulous job in the first half where heroine’s naughty and is in love. However, she needs to come up with better dubbing for emotional scenes and serious episodes..

Others: Chiranjeevi did a special appearance in Bangaru Kodi Petta remix song. Srihari has relatively small screen presence. But his role is extremely powerful. He is excellent as Share Khan and his get-up and dialogue delivery is superb. And his Srikakulam dialect in the second half is very nice. The guy who did the role of villain has sharp features and he is adequate. Rao Ramesh is excellent in the role of Aghora. His voice and body language is wonderful. Sameer is good as the deputy of Srihari. Sunil and Brahmanandam are adequate. Mumaith Khan danced with Ram Charan Teja in Bangaru Kodi Petta. Kim Sharma did another item song. One wonders what Saloni is doing in this movie?

Technical departments

Story - screenplay - directon: Story of the movie is about rebirths. Rajamouli opened the movie by revealing the story right in the first episode. The challenge lies in Rajamouli’s handling of telling the story interestingly to the audiences though audiences know what he is going to narrate. Screenplay of the movie is good and the Rajamouli trade mark commercial paybacks are nicely inserted at regular intervals. Rajamouli who made a self-confession in the past that he is weak at narrating love stories makes a nice effort to come up with a convincing love story that penetrates eras and generations.

The following three episodes are visually extraordinary

1. The opening sequence.
2. The shot where hero and heroine go to Bhairava to perform poojas.
3. The shot involving of elevating camera on top angle between two pillars in flashback episode.

The following commercial payoffs will work big time

1. White Chunni thread (just like the thread of medal in Yamadonga film)
2. Picking up four important characters from the past and get them closer in the current time.
3. Ending the movie from where it started in the opening episode (usage of same weapons, location, sentiment etc)
4. Aghora tells villain how to recognize the hero. And the same symptoms occur during helicopter fight before interval.

The following scenes will create an impact:

1. The horse coming back to help the sinking hero.
2. Kill 100 people episode (inspired by 300 movie killing style where killing is shown more like poetry than a gore element). The opening credits have the counting of 100 as the backdrop and we realise the importance of it only after watching the last fight of the flashback.

The following scenes are mediocre:

1. The basis of heroine misunderstanding hero is too flimsy.
2. Srihari’s car colliding with chopper looks comical in the serious fight of climax. .

Other departments: Rajamouli should be appreciated for giving due credit to all his technicians by dedicating a full-song to them during the end titles of the movie. Watching that was fun. Songs scored by MM Keeravani are little disappointing when you listen to them on the stereo. But they are good on screen with visuals. Background music is excellent. Cinematography by Senthil Kumar is very good. It is extremely difficult to recreate the era of 400 years old and art direction by Ravinder is splendid. Fights composed by Peter Hynes are excellent. Dialogues by Ratnam are good. Styling by Rama Rajamouli is very good and you can see chic colors in the costumes worn by the lead pair in abroad song. Editing is good. Visual effects are nice. So is digital intermediate. But at the same time, there seem to be inconsistency in visuals throughout the movie. Some of the visuals are excellent and some of the visuals are good and some other are mediocre. Visuals are the results of combined effort of cinematographer, art director, visual effects department, DI team and film processing lab. One can see inconsistency in the postproduction of the movie. Production values of Geeta Arts are impressive and it is one of the biggest spent movie of Telugu film industry.

Analysis: Opening episode of the movie is superb. First half of the movie is nice and second half is decent. The tempo goes down right after the flashback episode as it’s everybody’s guess that what follows is a predictable climax. The plus points of the movie are Ram Charan Teja, novel subject of rebirth, flashback episode, grandeur and commercial pay offs. On the flipside, there is tremendous scope for improvement in the second half. On a whole, Magadheera might not be a great film. But it is a good entertainer with nicely packed commercial elements and grandeur. Go and watch it in a theatre near you with nice projection and good sound system.

Tailpiece: There is uncanny resemblance to Arundhati and Magadheera stories. Both these films are about incarnations. Both these movies have aghora episodes. And villain lusts heroine and that forms the central conflict point in both these movies.

Magadheera - biggest hit in South India

Magadheera which started as a huge hit with unprecedented openings turned out to be the biggest hit ever made in Telugu by breaking all previous records by miles. It has crossed the earlier biggest Telugu hit film Pokiri by 7 weeks. Magadheera completed 100 days today and by now it has surpassed Rajnikant's Sivaji by grossing more than 100 crores worldwide. As of today, Magadheera stands are the biggest grosser of South India Cinema.

Magadheera has grossed more than 1 crore each in the following 16 centers -

1. RTC X Roads (Hyderabad)
2. Vizag
3. Vijayawada
4. Kakinada
5. Guntur
6. Rajahmundry
7. Ongole
8. Warangl
9. Nellore
10. Ananthapuram
11. Tirupati
12. Kurnool
13. Kadapa
14. Dilshuknagar (Hyderabad)
15. Kukatpally (Hyderabad)
16. Prasadz (Hyderabad)

Magadheera is also set an all India record by running for 50 days and 100 days in 302 and 223 centers respectively. All these as direct centers with four shows.

Magadheera film made a national flutter by becoming the biggest grosser of the year in India

Magadheera 100 days in 223 centers.

Magadheera is first ever movie in INDIA ran 100 days in 223 in direct centers.

STRICT

S.No. Area Theatre Name
001 Guntur – First Time 100 Days Krishna Mahal
002 Guntur – First Time 100 Days Bollywood
003 Tenali – First Time 100 Days Sangameswara
004 Ongole – First Time 100 Days Srinivasa
005 Cheerala – First Time 100 Days Sangam
006 Narsaraopeta – First Time 100 Days Saradamba
007 Chilakaluripeta – First Time 100 Days Srinivasa
008 Mangalagiri – First Time 100 Days Annapurna
009 Repalle – First Time 100 Days Basaveswara
010 Ponooru – First Time 100 Days Lakshmi
011 Sathenapalli – First Time 100 Days Lakshmi
012 Piduguralla – First Time 100 Days Jayalakshmi
013 Vinukonda – First Time 100 Days Suresh
014 Adhanki – First Time 100 Days Sathyanayana
015 Macherla – First Time 100 Days Srinivasa
016 Dhachepalli – First Time 100 Days Ramakrishna
017 Nellore – First Time 100 Days Archana
018 Kavali – First Time 100 Days Manasa
019 Guduru – First Time 100 Days Sangam
020 Venkatagiri – First Time 100 Days Jyothy
021 Nayudupeta – First Time 100 Days C.S.Teja
022 Sullurpeta – First Time 100 Days Lakshmi
023 Kota – First Time 100 Days R.R.T
024 Buchireddy Pallem – First Time 100 Days Rajkishore
025 Kandukur – First Time 100 Days Prasanthi
026 Darsi – First Time 100 Days Srinivas
027 Podili – First Time 100 Days Venkateswara
028 Kanigiri – First Time 100 Days Sudharasan
029 Atmakur – First Time 100 Days Ramakrishna<
030 Pamuru – First Time 100 Days Ravikala

VISAKAPATNAM DISTRICT


031 Vizag Sarath
032 Kanchara Palem Orvasai
033 Gajuwaka Mohini 75 MM
034 Gopalpatnam Mowrya
035 Anakapalli Sri Jagannadh
036 Vijayanagaram N.C.S
037 Srikakulam Sarawathi Mahal
038 Payakarao Peta Gowtham
039 Narsipatnam Srikanya
040 Chodavaram Poorna
041 Yelamanchali Seethachitra Mandhir
042 Chittivalasa Sapthagiri
043 Ganapathi Nagar Gangaraj
044 Bobbili Sri Vasavi
045 Parvati puram> Padmasri
046 S.Kota Sri Venkateswara
047 Chipurapalle Radha Madhavi
048 Rajam Seetharama
049 Pondhuru – First Time 100 Days Balaji
050 Ranastalam – First Time 100 Days Ramanjaneya
051 Palakonda Anjaneya
052 Narasannapeta Sri Venkateswara
053 Palaasa Bhasakararama
054 Tekali Bhavani
055 Kaviti Mahalakshmi

West Godavari District


056 Eluru< Vijayalakshmi
057 Bhimavaram Padmalaya
058 Tanuku Venkateswara
059 Tadepalli gudem LakshmiNarayana
060 Paalakollu Sriteja
061 Jangareddy Gudem Sowbhagya
062 Nidadhavoolu Veerabhadra
063 Chintalapude Sharada
064 Narsapuram Annapurna
065 Divarapalli Sriramnath
066 Akivedu Vijaya
067 Konithivada Rama Krishna
068 Koyalagudem – First Time 100 Days MahaLakshmi
069 Pedeevam – First Time 100 Days Srinivasa

Krishna District


070 Vijayawada – First Time 100 Days Alankar
071 Paayakaapuram – First Time 100 Days Srivenkateswara
072 Gunadala – First Time 100 Days Vinayaka
073 Poranki – First Time 100 Days Srinivasa
074 Kankipadu – First Time 100 Days Mayuri
075 Uvvuru – First Time 100 Days Deepak
076 Gudivada – First Time 100 Days Sarat
077 Jagayapeta – First Time 100 Days Kamal
078 Machilipatnam – First Time 100 Days Sri venkat
079 Nandigama – First Time 100 Days Lakshmi Prasanna
080 Mylavaram – First Time 100 Days Sangameetra
081 Visannapeta – First Time 100 Days Sriram
082 Nuzuvidu – First Time 100 Days Dwaraka
083 Chalapally – First Time 100 Days > Sagar
084 Kaikaluru – First Time 100 Days Maganti
085 Tiruvuru – First Time 100 Days Venkatarama
086 Avanigadha – First Time 100 Days Venkateswara

Nizam


087 Hyderabad - RTC Cross roads Sudarshan
088 Dilsukhnagar Konark
089 Kukatpally Mallikarjuna
090 Secunderabad Prasanth
091 NTR Garden Prasad Multiplex
092 RC Puram Sridevi
093 Kapra Radhika
094 Malkajagiri Sriram
095 Karmanghat Indira
096 Vanasthalipuram Shushma
097 Uppal Srinivasa
098 Warangal Sunil
099 Hanumakonda Amrutha
100 Mahabhubabad Lakshmi
101 Janagam Devi
102 NarsamPeta Jayasri
103 Parakala Jaya Delux
104 Thoruru Ramakrishna
105 Maripeta – First Time 100 Days Venkateswara
106 Karimnagar Bharat
107 Godavari kani Rajesh
108 Jagethela Nataraj
109 Jamikunta Annapurna
110 Sirisila Vimal
111 Pedapalli – First Time 100 Days Sangeet
112 Hujurabad – First Time 100 Days Annapurna
113 Khammam Vinoda
114 Kothagudem Durga
115 Bhadrachalam Udayabhaskar
116 Elandu – First Time 100 Days Seetarama
117 Sathupalli Sai balaji
118 Madhira Santhi
119 Ashvaraopeta Venkata durga
120 Nizamabad > Lalitha
121 Kamareddy Priya
122 Nolgonda Nataraj
123 Miryalaguda Srinivasa
124 Suryapeta Teja cinema
125 Kodhada Ranga
126 Haliya – First Time 100 Days Kalyan
127 Siddipeta Balaji
128 Sangareddy Nataraj
129 Gajwal – First Time 100 Days Santhosh
130 Jahirabad Maheshwari
131 Mahaboob Nagar Venkateswara
132 Shadnagar Ramakrishna
133 Vanaparthi Ranga
134 Narayanapeta Manohar
135 Kothapeta Parameshwari
136 Jadcharlla – First Time 100 Days Srinivasa
137 Adilabad – First Time 100 Days Nataraj
138 Manchireyala Venkateswara
139 Nirmal – First Time 100 Days Tirumala
140 Bellampalli – First Time 100 Days Ramakrishna
141 Tanduru Shantimahal

Ceded

142 Kurnool Anand
143 Nandyala Prathap
144 Adoni Dwaraka
145 Emignuru Siva
146 Markapuram Vijayatakies
147 Gidhalurru Nataraj
148 Doon Raj
149 Nandikothuru Sivashankara thakies
150 Athakuru Rangamahal
151 Allagada Bhavani
152 Banagaanapalli Sivaram
153 Koilakunta Panduranga
154 Guduru Ahkil
155 Tirupathi Jayashyam
156 Madhanapally – First Time 100 Days ASR Movieland
157 Madhanapally – First Time 100 Days Siddhartha
158 Chithuru Chanikya
159 Srikalahasthi Bhalaram
160 Palamaneru Padmasri
161 Peleru Shukur Pictures palace
162 Phuthuru Shanthi
163 V. Kotha Bharat
164 Kalikiri – First Time 100 Days Prasad
165 Paakaala Ramakrishna Delux
166 Nagari Srinivasa
167 Satyavadu Murughan Takies
168 Nidra – First Time 100 Days SV takies
169 Kupam Murugan
170 Puganurru Tajmahal
171 Ananthapuram Gowri
172 Hindhupuram Lakshmi
173 Kadili Parameswari
174 Tadepatri Vijayalakshmi
175 DHarmavaram Siddartha
176 KalyanaDurgam Venkatama Chitramadhiram
177 Rayadurgam KB MovieLand
178 Guthi KPS Movieland
179 Gunthakal Vasavi
180 Uravakonda – First Time 100 Days Balaji
181 Bhallari Radhika
182 Hospet Bala
183 Siriguppa – First Time 100 Days RR thearte
184 Kadapa Ravi
185 Prodhuturu Aravethi
186 Pulivendalla Maruthi
187 Rajampeta PY pictures Palace
188 Mydhukuru Vijayatakies
189 Jammamadugu Sairam
190 Vempally Venkateswara
191 Bhadwell Noushad
192 Porumamillu – First Time 100 Days Dhashae Mahal
193 ErraGuntla – First Time 100 Days Swamy Venkateswara
194 Koduru Sidheswara
195 Raichoti Gowtham

Karnataka

215 Bangalore Pallavi
216 Bangalore PVR
217 Bangalore Vishavi
218 Chintapally SLN
219 Gowribidanuru Shankar takies
220 Pavukada Maruthi
221 Bhagepalli Rajendra
222 Husuru – First Time 100 Days Raghavenra
223 Parlakimidi Nataraj

Ram Charan Teja to follow Amir Khan

Ram Charan Teja to follow Amir Khan style story selection. He has an open mind and inclination to experiment and change the genres. Like Amir Khan delivered the path breaking bug-budget period saga Lagaan, Ram Charan Teja did Magadheera. Just like Amir Khan did Dil Chahta Hain after Lagaan, Ram Charan Teja is going to do a trendy love story to be directed by Bhaskar who gave wonderful film like Bommarillu in the past. This film will have USA backdrop.