Cast: Junior NTR, Rakul Preet, Rajendra Prasad, Jagapathi Babu, Rajiv Kanakala, Srinivas Avasarala.
Director: Sukumar
There cannot be a better filmmaker than Sukumar to dig subtlety out of Junior NTR. For 15 years, we have seen one shade of NTR and now we can take a deep breath about him breaking into a league of his own.
NTR looks like a high school student with a stylish beard in the climax where he’s seen with his brothers (Rajiv Kanakala and Srinivas Avasarala); and when he sits for a final banter with Jagapathi Babu, I was biting my nails to see how well Sukumar has worked on NTR’s character, like for instance how neatly the Young Tiger's suit has been stitched. NTR has not only spent time on his makeover, he has also understood the gravity that his character (Abhiram) demands. Abhiram’s strengths border on overconfidence and his weaknesses stop at the doorstep of his intelligence.
‘Nannaku Prematho’ is yet another game of snakes and ladders. Here, NTR is adamant on pulling Babu to the streets with his valor. The sincerity with which they cut off each other’s plans is questionable but you know you’re having fun because two dudes take the stage and try to show who the boss is. Babu’s limited screen time offers his character a legitimate sense of villainy. He doesn’t lay a finger on his prey but he still manages to rise to the top with his devious ideas. Rajendra Prasad is one such chicken who gets devoured by Babu’s debauchery. Prasad’s only aim is to see Babu’s empire collapse. Well, that’s a single line of emotion NTR carries in his heart throughout the film.
In a terrific action scene, NTR breaks a liquor bottle and places a shard of glass on a table. A man who wants to beat up NTR runs toward him but the inimitable Sukumar hero grabs him and pushes him on to the piece of glass. A regular director would have made his hero smash the skull of the baddie with the bottle and the bottle would have disappeared soon after. This is what separates Sukumar from the herd. In another action scene, NTR roughs up a couple of men and checks if his hair is intact. That’s the mark of a character; not a hero. But even Sukumar lets NTR ham in the end. The cool Abhiram becomes a shrieking Abhiram all of a sudden and that’s sort of a letdown. But it’s okay, there’s plenty to savor in ‘Nannaku Prematho’.
While NTR dances like there’s no another 25th film coming for him, Rakul Preet doesn’t get a chance to show her abilities. It’s a strict supporting role for her with nothing actually supporting her existence in the film. Even then, ‘Nannaku Prematho’ is one of the finest in NTR’s career and it is definitely Sukumar’s best so far.
Rating: 3.5/5
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