Movie: Waltair Veerayya
Story-Screenplay-Dialogues – Direction: Bobby Kolli
Cast: Chiranjeevi, Ravi Teja, Bobby Simha, Prakash Raj, Shruti Haasan, Catherine Tresa
Producers: Naveen Yerneni and Ravi Shankar Yalamanchili
Editor : Niranjan Devaramane
Music : Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematographer: Arthur A. Wilson
Release date: 13 January 2023
2.5/5
The IBC News Rating
After ‘Godfather’, ‘Megastar’ Chiranjeevi is arriving with ‘Waltair Veerayya’, an original film, on which not only his fans but Chiranjeevi himself has pinned expectations. With a couple of hit songs, the film managed to create a good buzz right a week ahead of its release and has finally hit the screens today. Let’s sail into the film.
Story :
Veerayya is a notorious pirate living in the Waltair region of Vizag. Fighting for a case, he needs a lumpsum amount to clear the hurdles, which is offered by Rajendra Prasad, an ex-cop, who got his whole station in a blood bath after failing to hold an international gangster Solomon Caesar for a single night. In revenge, he offers the assassination contract to Veerayya. After travelling to Malaysia on his Mission, Veerayya comes across Dr. Shalini and gets disturbed. The story behind it and the connection – conflict with the Caesar brothers forms the rest of the story.
What’s Entertaining & What’s Boring:
All the stars of the film are major assets. With mediocre scenes and a thin script, the film heavily relied on the actor – their image & their body language. Surprisingly the humour did work in the major parts of the film, and all the action sequences are a major plus.
A film is not just about entertainment, but engaging entertainment. Despite having Chiranjeevi & Ravi Teja, the film falls flat during the core plot and the untimely songs have spoiled the mood of the viewer. Emotions & sentiments are just for name sake, we just watch them but do not feel them.
Performance of Cast & Crew
Needless to say, the film is a complete swag show ‘Megastar’ Chiranjeevi. Although they recreated the hit blocks from his filmography without any creativity, it actually worked on screen. One cannot stop hooting at Chiranjeevi when lighting his beedi, walking in style and cracking up jokes. It’s really been a long time since Chiru’s comedy made its way to the silver screen. ‘Mass Maharaja’ Ravi Teja has also added strength to the film. His energetic performance and fights did have their impact.
Production by Mythri is mixed. There are huge set pieces on one hand, and shabby poor VFX on the other. The set piece does look like set pieces, not locations. The music & background by Devi Sri Prasad is a big letdown. Except for the establishment & build-up of music, nothing else worked on the music end. The fights are heavy.
First Half & Second Half:
The film began with an exciting note and things worked up pretty much in the first half. Although it might be great, comedy did work well in most parts of the film. Chiranjeevi & his gang managed to entertain the audience throughout the first half and the interval was a banger.
Despite an entertaining first half, the film suffers from strict mediocrity in the second half. Although Ravi Teja’s episode begins with a high impact, slowly it dissipates. The core emotion of the film, a crucial part, fails to engage the audience
Impressive:
Chiranjeevi’s Humour
Ravi Teja’s Action
Unimpressive:
Narrative
Song placement
Climax
The IBC News take on Movie:
Despite its drawbacks, the film did manage to entertain the audience. One can easily get through the film with Megastar’s Swag & mannerisms, which might be vintage but still works big time. A very easy & entertaining watch for the Telugu audience.
One-Line Review:
It might not be a blockbuster, but this Makara Sankranthi is Megastar’s Sankranthi.