Puri Jagannadh has of late gone berserk with his subjects, but ''Loafer'' is surely a different take of sorts. You may find many saying that it is a return to the kind of sentiment he presented in his big family entertainer, ''Amma Nanna O Tamilammayi''. The trailer did not promise anything of that sort, but the film is way ahead of what the trailer had hinted at.
Murali (Posani Krishna Murali) and Lakshmi Devi (Revathi) are a couple who had married after falling in love with each other. Unable to withstand Murali''s demand for more money from her parents, Lakshmi Devi decides to part ways with him. On a fine day, Murali clandestinely steals Raja (Varun Tej) from her and takes him to Jodhpur, where the father-son duo making a living by cheating on unsuspecting tourists et al.
Parijatam (Disha Patani) has arrived in Jodhpur after running away from a marriage proposal, which she doesn''t like. In no time, Parijatam and Raja fall in love with each other. Knowing this, Murali, who doesn''t like his son to fall in love with Parijatam, reveals the whereabouts of Parijatam to her family. At this moment, a blast from the past comes to shock Raja. What does he decide to do at this point of time? How is Lakshmi Devi related to all this? That forms the crux of the story.
While the title doesn''t invite us to expect anything of the mother-son sentiment that is there, the scenes that come in the second half are sure to entertain the family audience. It is Puri''s characteristic wit in the dialogue that add zing to the proceedings. If Revathi is her vintage self, doing her part with aplomb and restrained style, Varun Tej matches up to her with his emotional side, all while ensuring that he doesn''t go overboard with his act. There is an element of melodrama, but that doesn''t get on our nerves. Nor is all that sentiment old-fashioned portrayal.
The scenes between Revathi and Varun Tej in the second half are quite reminiscent of the kind of entertainment we saw in Puri''s earlier film with Jaya Sudha and Ravi Teja. Varun, who hitherto comes across as a mass hero, shows his new side in these scenes.
Posani does seem to over-act here and there, but overall, it doesn''t really irk because of strength oft he screenplay. Dhan Raj and Sapthagiri get good roles nad they evoke laughter with their quirky style of comedy. Brahmanandam is there as a force-fit; nevertheless, seeing his spout lines written by Puri Jagannadh is a treat in itself.
Story-wise, there is an element of predictability after a while and this doesn''t bode well for a film. Although the family audience is sure to like many moments, the takeaways for seem to decrease after a while.
Mukesh Rishi and Charan Deep are seen in key roles, the former is impressive yet again and with a director like Puri, he does present a new avatar.
PG Vinda''s cinematography enriches the frames, which otherwise wouldn''t have seemed so great in the hands of an ordinary cinematographer. Sunil Kashyap''s music doesn''t throw up memorable tunes. SR Shekar''s editing is apt.
Varun Tej dons a new avatar with this film, he looks dashing in some scenes, although it can''t be said that he improvises upon Puri''s visualization with his talent. He looks more than convincing in dramatic scenes, reminding one of his ''Kanche'' avatar.
Disha Patani looks glamorous and brings the necessary glamour quotient to the film. It is Revathi who far surpasses all with her studied portrayal.
Verdict: A film that shows a new side to Varun Tej, it also reintroduces a dose of mother sentiment to the audience.
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