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Raju Maharaju - Scores on Sentiment
Release date: 18 June 2009
123Telugu.com Rating: 3/5
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Director : Bhanu Shankar
Music Director : Chakri
Producer : Kumara Swamy Pathikonda
Starring : Sarwanand, Surveen Chawla, Tashu Koushik, Mohan Babu, Ramya Krishna, Brahmanandam...
Related Links: Videos , Movie Gallery, Sarwanand, Survin Chawla, Tashu Koushik, Mohan Babu, Ramya Krishna

Sharwanand shines in this brother-sentiment film, which is ably supported by the performances of Mohanbabu and Ramya Krishna.

What is it about : Kalyan (Sharwanand) and Chakravarthy (Mohanbabu) are brothers. Chakravarthy pampers young Kalyan to the point of plain ruin. For an industrious Chakravarthy anything that Kalyan asks is game. Needless to say Sharwanand abuses the tremendous freedom that his elder brother gives him. Kalyan in a fit of rage on being rejected by his lady love Sneha (Surveen Chawla) runs over her father (Nasser). The twist in the tale is he does not know that the person he ran over is Sneha’s father. Sneha seeks revenge by eyeing Chakravarthy’s considerable property and dragging the family onto the streets. How the brothers change, sacrifice for each others' sake and overcome the odds forms the rest of the movie.

What is Good: Sharwanand's performance is a revelation. The young man emotes well and lives the part of a spoilt rich brat. Actually Durga Shankarnath's story has etched Kalyan's character well. Since he is also the director, Durga Shankarnath has managed to extract a fine performance from Sharwanand. Mohanbabu though needs no such assistance. He excels in the dialogues that Jeevana Satyam has penned for him. His counseling of an impatient Kalyan is vintage Mohanbabu. Even the fairly sophisticated crowd couldn't resist clapping when Mohanbabu says "“Puttaedhi aado-maugo telusukovaalante 9 maasaalu wait cheyyali. Aa puttina vaadu prayojakudu avuthado ledho, asalu vaadi lakashyam emito choodalante paathikellu wait cheyyali. Anukunna lakshyam neravaruchukovadaaniki kondaru jeevitha kaalam wait cheyalsi vasthundi” Ramya Krishna lends the perfect balance to Mohan Babu's histrionics. The film picks up steam and sentiment in the second half. This actually seems to be the first sentiment oriented drama this season and therefore can very well turn out to be this summer’s sleeper hit.

What is bad: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao's editing. The film should have been at least 20 minute shorter. Chakri's music is a let down as is the comedy track between Brahmanandam and Sunil. The first half meanders a bit and is slow. Tashu Kaushik's oomph is garish as are Surveen Chawla's lip sync movements. Ramya Krishna is wasted with a poorly defined role. But these things can be glossed over.

Me Thinks: It is good clean family fun. Mohanbabu's restrained performance, Sharwanand's energy have the given the film a good positive buzz. Watch it with your family. You will have very few reasons to complaint.

Tailpiece: Sarwanand could turn out to be the dark horse of the younger lot of heroes. His dances with ease and his diction is clean. Perhaps the title is an indication of the impact that he is likely to have in the industry in the coming years.

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Legend:    5 - Flawless
                4 - Must Watch
                3 - One Time Watch
                2 - Wait for the DVD
                1 - Stay Away
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