Romance, sibling rivalries, melodrama, rich song sequences, family sentiments and stunts -- that's Sivakasi... oops... Vijayadasami for you.
It appears as if Kalyanram is playing it safe. He takes on the time-tested script that is replete with melodrama. It aims at all sections of audience, particularly women. Director Samudra, however, did not experiment with the script. He made a frame-to-frame copy of the Tamil film Sivakasi. Even the wardrobe of the lead couple, the dialogues and music is the same.
Samudra maintains the tempo of the film throughout, but he could have cut down on the footage and tightened the film to make it better. He tries to portray Kalyanram in a mass image. He also gives a particular 'walking style' in a couple of scenes a la Shankardada.
The film is about Sivakasi, an orphan who makes a living by welding parts of vehicles. But mind you, he sports Adidas Tees! A rich girl falls for him but her father is not ready to marry her off to an orphan. Watch the film to know what happens next.
Samudra scores points in sticking to the script, and getting the perfect cast. Saikumar as the brother and Jayasudha are good. The comedy track is also quite good.
The hitch however is Kalyanram's performance in the first half. He needs to do more films to polish his acting prowess. But he does well in the second half. Vedika too is good and looks charming. The surprise package is Simran who has does a song sequence with Kalyanram. She looks heavier but the zeal is still there as she shakes her leg with Kalyanram.
As expected in any Nandamuri family films, the late NTR springs to life and there is a stage performance with duplicates of NTR and Balakrishna. But some stunt scenes and jeeps exploding in mid-air are unrealistic.
On the whole, the film has nothing new to offer.
Rediff Rating: