Godfather

GodFather follows in the footsteps of massy hits like Pushpa: The Rise and KGF: Chapter 2 from earlier this year. In some parts, it lacks the heart and finesse of a Pushpa and the grandeur of KGF. Yet, it balances the two quite well. The script falters, partly because there is a lack of one for large portions of the film. In trying to be clever, it wanders into the unintentionally funny territory at times. It is not a cerebral political thriller in the genre of a Rajneeti or Leader. It is an action film disguised as one, but disguised quite well. The film is high on drama, lacks subtlety, and uses every cliché out there.

The basic storyline has pretty much everything - right from action scenes to punch dialogues - that one expects from a film headlined by a mass hero. The plot reaches its potential due to the solid packaging. Each scene manages to build an aura around Chiranjeevi's character. GodFather opens with a series of slow yet intense scenes which establish the film's world. These sequences work as they have a sense of urgency, which makes it easier for the viewers to relate to the reel action. They do a pretty good job of setting the stage for Chiranjeevi’s massy entry. The actor’s introduction scene is subdued compared to the ones we saw in SS Rajamouli’s RRR and the Nandamuri Balakrishna-led Legend. It, however, packs a punch mainly because of Chiranjeevi’s stellar screen presence.

Owing to the dismal performance of Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi’s recent movies (Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy, Acharya), there was some uneasiness in the trade about GodFather. Chiranjeevi, however, expressed a lot of confidence that GodFather would end his losing streak and satisfy his fan base. And he was correct. Director Mohan Raja has packed GodFather with plenty of energetic moments to ensure there isn’t a dull moment in the narration.