The unprecedented success of Bhale Bhale Mogadivoi has established Nani as one of the most bankable Telugu stars for the family-going audience, and has raised expectations for his latest release Krishna Gaadi Veera Prema Gaadha (KGVPG).
So does Nani deliver another hilariously stellar performance? Yes. Does the film meet expectations? No.
Despite an interesting plot and humorous moments, the film loses steam in the middle and turns out to be a slow, drawn out affair.
KGVPG tells the story of Krishna (Nani), who plays a Nandamuri Balakrishna fan. Since childhood, Krishna is in love with Mahalakshmi (Mehreen Kaur Pirzada), but is terrorised by her brother (who’s a powerful goon), and instead tells everybody that he hates her. Meanwhile, Mahalakshmi’s family is involved in a long-standing family feud, where both sides are constantly baying for blood (though nobody knows why). Mahalakshmi’s uncle ACP Srikanth (Sampath Raj) is a ruthless officer who doesn’t think twice before killing the corrupt. Things take a turn for the worse when an International terrorist David Ibrahim (a not-so-subtle reference to Dawood) decides to India, a move which instantly changes the lives of everybody, and Krishna is inadvertently given the task of protecting three little children.
The film starts off with a fine balance of humour and drama but unnecessary plot twists and characters mar the script. While the first half is light and entertaining, the second portion drags on endlessly, leaving you largely disappointed.
There are a few bright moments though. The humour is excellent and there is comic relief at constant intervals to entertain viewers. Hanu Raghavapudi does a decent job with the screenplay and background score is efficient. Gowtham Raju’s editing is poor and leaves you wondering why the film is taking so long. Also, there are a lot of scenes that the film could have done without. In fact, the director doesn’t elaborate much on the family feud between two families in Rayalaseema and it seems like it’s there only to add a few fight sequences. Also, a lot was spoken about the protagonist being a Balayya fan but aside from the odd reference to the Nandamuri star and calling himself ‘Legend’, the fact that he’s a Balayya fan isn’t really related to the story.
Nani, yet again, stands out in KGVPG and delivers yet another terrific performance. His comic timing and dialogue delivery is impeccable and the actor brights up the screen whenever he’s around. Newcomer Mehreen Kaur Pirzada is a great find and delivers a fine debut performance. Sampath Raj and Murali Sharma are first rate, while Brahmaji and Prudhvi Raj shine in comic roles.
Sadly, a film which began with much promise and potential falters badly in the second half and quickly turns into an agonisingly drab movie. Nani’s presence and the humour makes Krishna Gaadi Veera Prema Gaadha a one-time watch, but the general feeling after leaving the theatre – is one of disappointment.