Express Raja:
This is non-stoppable laugh riot. The Rohit Shetty variety. Leave your common
sense behind and sit back and have unadulterated fun. This is the kind of film
that the critic would frown at and win the typical response from the maker that
he cares no hoots as long as the viewers gets his money’s worth.
This is about every body on the run. We have Raja (Sharvananda) who is smitten
by Ammulu (Surabhi) who gives him the royale ignore. Supporting him in the
process of winning over the heroine is his alter ego is Srinu (Darling Sreenu).
He nearly wins her over till he messes up with her pet dog Silky a shih tzu
that she simply cannot do without. Having sent it into the Municipal van he has
to retrieve it to win his lady love. The dog quickly changes hands: first the
pet dog shop owner, then another guy British (Supreet) who would take it for
his daughter who coughs up a whole Rs.75000 for the dog. To retrieve it, they
employ Giri (Saptagiri) who is an expert in getting dogs kidnapped. Now they
kidnap the dog by which time we have British hide a precious diamond on the dog
collar. Having lost the precious jewel with the dog, he is chasing Raju and the
rest. By now just as Ammu is in love with Raju, she is engaged to Keshav Reddy
(Harish Uttam) a local Don who is Mamma’s boy. Mamma (Kalpana) is made of stern
stuff and wants to see her son as the local MLA and therefore fine tunes the
alliance with Ammu. By a bizarre accident Mamma suffers a head injury and since
she is watching Vasanta Kokila she also suffers amnesia and falls for the pup
and refuses to part with it. The hero now elopes with the heroine and is chased
by the villain. Also is a drama troupe caught in the cross-current. The groups
have their internal confusions and the chase is the kind that you see at a
climax in a Priyadarshan film or reach out to a climax with a Woodhousian
touch. Only the British style is missing.
What makes the film viewable is the fact that the one liners are natural and
far from contrived. Also there is not vulgarity in the humour. Every one plays
a natural effortless role in the film. The script is sharp and the script
though a tad too long for a good comedy has the sustained interest of the
viewer.
Every one in the cast is worth mentioning: from the villain in Harish Uttam to
the likes of Dhanraj as Inumu who plays a subtle role to be not missed. Also
doing a fine performance as the Mom who is suffering amnesia is Kalpana with
her great sense of comic timing. Then there is also Shakalaka Shanker adding
his few moments. However holding the film together are Sharwanand and
Saptagiri. Both hold the film together and take you on a fine festive ride.
Unhesitatingly recommended.
Rating: 3.5 stars
+ Humour
– Hardly anything
L. Ravichander.