Film: Jai Lava Kusa; Cast: NTR Jr, Raashi Khanna, Nivetha Thomas, Sai Kumar, Posani Krishna Murali; Director: KS Bobby
Every child on earth strives for warmth, love and affection. If his family doesn’t pay any attention to him/her, they certainly develop an inner conflict and express hatred towards others. It’s when the adults should step in and make them understand the difference between good and bad.
The core idea of Jr NTR-starrer Jai Lava Kusa exactly deals with this point. Jai (NTR) gets bullied by his maternal uncle and brothers for his communication disorder. These unpleasant experiences never sap his confidence levels and he unleashes ample rage to get due recognition, no matter what.
From idiolising Ravana and deriving his name from the mythological character to becoming a demon, Jai does everything to accomplish his goals. While the other two folks grow up to become the ever truthful Lava, a bank manager by profession and a conman Kusa, who aspires to jet off to the US.
Of late, NTR has been trying to get away from his mass hero image and dared to attempt something wholly different with his recent outings. For the first time, he played a triple role as Jai, Lava and Kusa. Although they look identical, the trio doesn’t share anything in common. Jai Lava Kusa draws its prowess from NTR who pulls off three contrasting roles with great fervour and enthusiasm. From showcasing innocence, wickedness, vivacity and pathos, he wonderfully strikes a balance between them. Especially, he relishes every dialogue uttered by Jai and makes it the most enduring character he has ever played.
Director Bobby invested his creativity in coming up with some inspiring moments that wonderfully showcase the acting prowess of NTR. He didn’t rely on an inventive storyline and rather handled the narrative in a delicate way both emotionally and contextually. The film also offers some slapstick humour but unlike some recent movies, it doesn’t end up being deafening.
The story of the film has a distinctly Ramayana feel to it, reminiscent of Rama, who was exiled from Ayodhya and Bharatha who believes that the elder must lead. The track that stands out in this film is the stage play between the three brothers who play Rama, Lakshmana and Ravana to bring about an intuitive realisation in Jai.
Raashi Khanna and Nivetha Thomas had a smouldering presence but their roles lack depth. Of the supporting cast, Sai Kumar makes an impression as Jai’s henchman and Posani Krishna Murali is sure to keep you laughing till your stomach hurts. Ronit Roy fails to leave any impact in a mediocre role. And actress Tamannah’s special number doesn’t add any value and interrupts the narrative. Truly, JLK leaves you soggy-eyed and stirred. Despite some shortcomings, the film lives up to the reputation of Jr NTR as a powerhouse of talent.
Rating: 3/5