'Hero' hit the screens today, marking Sankranthi. In this section, we are going to review the latest box office release.

Story:

Arjun (newcomer Ashok Galla) has his task cut out when he has to find out why he has received a retro pistol as a parcel and why he has been blackmailed into killing the father (Jagapathi Babu) of his girlfriend (Nidhhi Agerwal). Somewhere in Mumbai, Saleem Bhai (Ravi Kishan), a don, is also after Arjun, who is a guy-next-door wanting to become a Telugu cinema hero. There is a tale behind Arjun and his would-be 'mama'.

Analysis:

Writer-director Sriram Adittya has picked a newcomer, who is a nephew of Mahesh Babu, for a dark comedy that knows how to laugh at strange cinematic phenomena and also pays a neat tribute to the time-tested aspects of Telugu cinema. It is not a mass masala flick, but it is a pack of a stream of slow-motion shots. The director knows that Ashok Galla is no mass hero but the film thinks that Arjun is a mass hero. That's where the fun of watching films like 'Hero' and 'Om Shanti Om' (Hindi) lies.

Jagapathi Babu's character says that several people have made their own lives miserable by wanting to become cinema heroes. This particular line has a hidden meaning. The male lead is happy-go-lucky and is seen as an irresponsible son by his irate father (VK Naresh). But this trope is not stretched too hard. His mother is always naive and ends up befriending baddies, much to the amusement of the audience.

The situational humour is delicious. The last segment of the film would have been dull had it not been for the parodic comedy involving a self-important and outrageously silly cinema hero (played by Brahmaji) and his self-assured mass filmmaker (it's a dig at Boyapati Srinu).

The director had hinted in a pre-release interview that 'Hero' has traces of dark comedy. This one is more of a crime comedy where the co-incidences tickle the funny bone. They are contrived but you enjoy them nevertheless.

The songs are placed well and they don't overstay their welcome. Ghibran's music is effective, especially his stylistic BGM. Sameer Reddy and Richard Prasad helm the camera departments in turn. There is no jarring moment, thanks to adept editing.

Ashok Galla is a promising talent who gets to play a character that unwittingly laughs at himself. His chemistry with senior actors and junior comedians (read Satya) alike is easy. Vennela Kishore and Brahmaji outcompete each other. Ravi Kishan of 'Race Gurram' fame could have done better.

Verdict:

'Hero' is a fun-filled entertainer. Watch it if you don't mind a few slip-ups.