Review: Mahesh Rocks, Guntur Kaaram Falls Short

Release Date : January 12, 2024

Starring: Mahesh Babu, Sreeleela, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Jagapathi Babu. Ramya Krishnan, Rao Ramesh, Vennela Kishore and others

Director: Trivikram Srinivas

Producer: S. Radha Krishna

Music Director: Thaman S

Cinematographer: Manoj Paramahamsa

Editor: Naveen Nooli

After 14 years, Super Star Mahesh Babu and director Trivikram Srinivas worked together on the action-packed emotional drama, Guntur Kaaram. The movie has been released in theaters worldwide today. Read our review to find out if it’s worth watching.

Story:

Vyra Vasundhara, played by Ramya Krishnan, had to leave her son Veera Venkata Ramana (Mahesh Babu) when he was just 10 due to an accident. After 25 years, she becomes a Minister, and her father Venkata Swamy (Prakash Raj) wants Ramana to sign papers saying he has no connection with his mom for her election success. The story reveals details about the accident, Ramana’s reaction, whether he signs the papers, Vasundhara’s actions, and if they eventually reunite. It’s a tale of family, politics, and the journey to possible reconciliation.

Positive aspects:

Mahesh Babu shines in his new role, effortlessly blending a tough style with the captivating Guntur dialect, pleasing his dedicated fans. Prakash Raj impresses as both the minister and Mahesh Babu’s grandfather, adding depth to the film with their on-screen chemistry.

Ramya Krishnan, despite limited screen time, leaves a lasting impact with her subtle yet powerful performance. The banter between Mahesh Babu and Vennela Kishore brings genuine laughter, although some other cast members deliver average performances.

Overall, Mahesh Babu’s charisma, Prakash Raj’s excellence, and moments of humor make this film a delightful experience for fans.

Negative points:

The movie faces a major drawback in its story and screenplay, lacking an engaging plot and strong writing by Trivikram. Emotional moments suffer due to weak writing, affecting overall interest. Unnecessary scenes involving characters like Meenakshii Chaudhary, Rahul Ravindran, Jagapathi Babu, Rao Ramesh, and Jayaram contribute little to the main story, and talented actors are underused.

Despite a promising start, the first half loses momentum, and hopes for an impressive second half are crushed. Trivikram needs to focus on improving the script and screenplay. The music is just okay, not standing out, but Mahesh Babu’s dance with Sreeleela provides a pleasant break for fans.

Technical elements:

Trivikram Srinivas, as both writer and director, misses the chance to make a lasting impact. A better and more relatable story could have made the movie more appealing. Unfortunately, Thaman’s music doesn’t meet expectations.

The cinematography by Manoj Paramahamsa is okay, but the editing by Navin Nooli needs improvement, especially in cutting unnecessary scenes. Despite the producers investing a lot, the film looks good visually. Overall, the movie lacks a strong storyline and the music could have been better, but it still has some visually pleasing aspects.

Conclusion:

Overall, Guntur Kaaram succeeds in providing entertainment in certain segments, heavily relying on the captivating screen presence, accent, and witty one-liners delivered by Mahesh Babu. Nevertheless, its shortcomings, such as a lackluster storyline, slow-paced screenplay, and unnecessary scenes, might restrict its overall appeal. While Guntur Kaaram may not win over every audience this Sankranthi season, enthusiasts of Mahesh Babu may still enjoy it, primarily due to the actor’s impressive solo performance in an energetic and charismatic role.