When you remake a film, stick to the mantra -- give thinking a miss and remake as is. Director Vijay Kiran stuck to it and as a result Ramleela mirrors the original Telugu hit Loukyam to the hilt, making it a rich entertainer.
All credit goes to writer Sridhar Seepana, who wrote the original script. Vijay’s characters add to the nativity and that becomes a plus for the film. Produced by Soundarya Jagadish, the fresh pairing, ensemble star cast, stylised acting, rich backdrop and over-the-top costumes lend a distinct touch to Ramleela.
The film revolves around Ram (Chiranjeevi Sarja) who is in love with Chandrakala (Amulya), sister of a don Annaji (Shobraj). The twist comes when Ram tells Chandrakala that it was he who kidnapped her elder sister to marry her off to her love. How will Chandrakala react to Ram’s favour and how he convinces her brother to accept their love forms the crux of Ramleela, which totally runs on comedy and action.Though the director had initially claimed to make the film from scratch, taking only the idea of the original, he seems to have got cold feet and did not even take the risk of changing even names, situations and even phones! Though Chiranjeevi Sarja re-enacts the role of Gopichand in Telugu, he has managed to bring out the character in his own style that in turn gives a fresh feel. Amulya is charming and blends into the character easily. Apart from the main lead, it is comedians, Sadhu Kokila, Rangayana Raghu, Chikkanna and Kuri Pratap who add the required punch throughout, making the film more quirky. Worth mentioning is Sadhu Kokila, who after a long hiatus manages to steal the show. Shobraj, of course, is superb as the good villain. Sanjjanaa’s cameo is glamourous.Technically, cinematographer Bharani K Daran has captured the delightful locales of Georgia beautifully adding immense value to songs scored by Anup Reubens.
If you have not seen the Telugu original, Ramleela could be a right bet.