‘Raju Bhai’ Review: Old Story On Beaten Track

Film: Raju Bhai
Rating: 3/5
Cast: Manchu Manoj, Shiela, Tanikella Bharani, Giribabu, Dharmavarapu, Brahmanandam, Sunil etc
Story: Miskin
Choreography: Raju Sunadaram, Ganesh Acharya
Fights: Ram-Laxman
Editing: Goutam Raju
Camera: Prasad
Producer: Padmashri Dr Mohan Babu
Director: Soorya Kiran
Release Date: 18th May 2007

It is the remake of Tamil hit ‘Chittiram Pesudadi’. But the fresh appeal is lacking in Telugu version. The film is made on beaten track and gives old flavor.

Story:
Raju (Manoj) is the guy who lives in the gang of Babaji, a local gangster. Raju is dynamic, go-getter, doer and faithful yes man to Babaji.

Like any other action hero of Telugu films Raju happens to encounter a girl (Shiela) and falls in her love. She is motherless and her father (Tanikella Bharani) looks after her since childhood. She too loves Raju and asks him to quit rowdism. He will do that and starts loving by selling dolls on streets.

The girl starts loving him more from then (!)

But Babaji’s son happens to love the girl. On the other hand Raju get trapped by police in a brothel case. The girl loses her love on him. But in an unexpected situation the girl’s father commits suicide (only the scenes before climax reveal the truth).

Then what happens? How Raju wins her? That makes the rest of the story.

Performances:
Manoj performed with ease. He tried to emulate his father in some scenes especially in dialogue delivery. He has to groom well in dances and looks better if reduced little bit.

Shiela is good looking, photogenic and worthy to act. She has shown her histrionics rightly in many scenes.

Sunil is ok in not-so-prominent role. The song ‘Korameenu Sora Chepala Kalyanam…’ is funny and Sunil’s performance is good in that.

Brahmanandam’s guest comedy is impressive and spilled laughs.

Other characters are routine and ok. Dialogues are weak and lacked in contemporary punch.

Ram-Lakshman’s action scenes worked well. The lyrics in the song ‘Guchchi Guchchi’ are good. The music resembles something on the lines of 7G Brindavan Colony songs.

On a whole Soorya Kiran couldn’t score well with this film. He would have presented in better way with intact screenplay that suits the taste of Telugu audiences.

Analysis:
The film starts on dull note but picks up slowly. First half of the film runs with hilarious aspects. But second half goes serious and action takes major part.

It’s the film that suits the chemistry of early 90s taste. ‘Rowdy Gari Pellaam’ would flash on mind while watching this. Screenplay appears to be in confused state. Many scenes appear artificial. Especially hero selling dolls on streets as alternative to rowdism is far from natural appeal. It would have been more convincing.

Comedy part is very little and it would have been better if it is extended further.

To sum up, the film appears to be on a below average track, in first instance. Rest depends on publicity and patronage of mass audiences.