Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo Telugu Movie Review

            With two back to back mega films making it to the festival season the all-important question would be which of the two would make it big at the BO. To me the question would be which of them better deserves success. The answer is not too far to seek. Surely it is the Allu Arjun starrer. Make no mistake that within the precincts of commerce and defined premises this is a sure winner of a film.

            Director Trivikram ensures that the fan following of the actor are far from disappointed. The film has enough and more for the audience to not just rush to the theatre but ensure you return in large number again. 

            Valmiki (Murli Sharma) replaces his infant son with that of the rich parent.  All along the son and Dad relationship is strained. Bantu (Allu Arjun) falls head over heels for his boss Amulya (Pooja Hegde). While Bantu grows up in the middle-class family but acquires a natural flair for success, his replacement Raj (Sushant) is the cocooned boy with the grandfather ARK (Sachin), Dad Ramakrishna (Jairam) and Mom Yeshu (Tabu). However, there is Appalla Naidu (Sitharala Sripadu) and his son Paidithali (Govind Padma Surya). Though Bantu falls in love with Amulya her father (Tanikella Bharani) ensures she is engaged to the far more prosperous Raj. A comatose dying nurse in a hospital announces the real parentage of Bantu and dies. 

            Bantu now enters Vaikuntapuram the family home of the ARK industries.  Not surprisingly except for the grand old man there is hesitation in multiple sources to receive him. Not for long. The rest of the predictable route takes you to how members in the family accept him. More importantly the tale also deals with how he wins over his real mother, disowns his foster father, ensures the romance is in place and the villains are thrashed. Substantially cliched and predictable. Everything happens as you know it would. Every character is what you have seen ever so often and you may well predict the route ahead. This notwithstanding director Trivikram ensures that the audience stays glued to the seat with enthusiasm and an odd whistle too.

            Tabu is a huge disappointment.  Who would have thought that this award-winning actress would mouth her dialogues with such lifelessness? A profound accent does not help matters either. While the rest of the cast are sincere and doing their best even with a script as old as the hills, the top-notch actor seems to be in an act of somnambulism. Murali Sharma tries too hard. Jairam is all grace. Sachin Kedekar is adequate. The likes of Navdeep, Sushant, Rahul Ramakrishna Sunil, Vennela Kishore muster enough eye balls and attention.  Pooja Hegde may not have much to do (yet another predictability of our cinema) but is pleasant and gives the film her best. The mainstay by design script and box office dictates is surely Allu Arjun. However, must squeeze in a word about the music by Thaman S which is already a rage. The music is extremely well launched with fine dances. Yes, returning to the mainstay, like the film maker does Allu Arjun is confidence personified. He gives the script every bit of energy to keep it swift lively and fizz filled. His dance skills ensure a part of the film. His subtle expressions and timing in humour make a definite impact on the larger audience. For him this is a sure winner. Allu Arjun and Trivikram do everything to keep the viewer engaged. This is surely the kind of film one would want around the festive season. Atypical Tollywood money maker. Watch it if you are an Allu Arjun fan. Watch it any ways you may land up being one.

L. Ravichander.