'Oosaravelli' (Telugu)
Director: Surender Reddy
Cast: Jr NTR, Tamanna, Prakash Raj, Shaam, Jayaprakash Reddy, Raghubabu, MS Narayana
Here comes yet another respite for the Telugu viewers who have been inundated with dubbing films for a while now. A high-budget film featuring Jr NTR in a new look, the prerelease hype surrounding Oosaravelli got reflected in the number of theatres (1800) it had hit on day-one.
Moreover, Jr NTR is found to be desperate to shackle his Sakthi-image.
As conveyed by the title (meaning chameleon), Jr NTR (Tony) plays an unpredictable hoodlum who falls for Tamannah (Niharika) after running into her in a freak incident.
He then keeps pursuing his love despite knowing that she is committed to another guy. On the other hand, he is after Prakash Raj (Ajju Bhai), a mafia head, and shares a strange connection with the lady love in the flashback.
It’s amazing to see NTR attempting a role with grey shades and letting his female lead grab much screen space.
He is natural and quite engaging in the first-hour with his hilarity, thanks to Jayaprakash Reddy and Raghu Babu for lending their support. Displaying some simple dance moves, the young actor springs a shocking surprise as well; the Dandiya number being an exception.
Tamannah comes up with a performance-oriented role, which she pulls off decently well. Prakash Raj repeats as a ruthless don, who however is seen in second-half.
Payal Gosh is good, while Kick Shaam and MS Naryana do a cameo.
The others fill the screen.
Devi Sri Prasad’s music and background score are average; songs like 'Dandiya', 'Nenante naaku' and 'Niharika' are beautifully shot.
Rasool Ellore’s cinematography is slick.
Koratala Siva deprives the protagonist of his regular bout of punch dialogues.
Editing is passable and action scenes are exciting.
Surender Reddy’s direction is average since he loses track after the interval bang. A heavy dose of sentiment and lamentation in the second hour gets on the nerves. Confused screenplay, inattentive narration and illogical second-half play the deterrents.
The climax is irksome.
Jr NTR experimented with his role in 'Oosaravelli', which might not go down well with the masses. They expect something after NTR’s scintillating entry, but his character turns into something else in the next reels.
Excluding the comedy track in the first-act and the romance between the lead pair that tries adding enough pepper every now and then, the rest of the film has the audiences disillusioned.
All these make it a bland dish!