Majnu Review

As teasers go, 'Majnu' effectively pulled the wool over your eyes.  All that it takes to pull the crowds is to have Nani emote pathos listening to an Ilaiyaraja number.  Add a breezy poster, you can't have a sexier one.  The director then says it's not a triangular love story.  I can't describe it either way, Nani chips in, just to make sure the pre-release confusion (which translates into curiosity) is complete.  It's about undoing a break-up, Virinchi ponders, as if the film's biggest strength is that.  As it turns out, that's the most predictable part.  Finally, all that is there is an old-school, predictable love story that is more musical than conversational, more love letter-oriented than lovely, more comic timing-driven than romantic timing-driven.

Adithya (Nani) is an aspiring filmmaker doubling up as SS Rajamouli's (in a cameo) stress-buster.  It's love at first sight when he chances upon Suma (Priyasri).  By a quirk of fate, he ends up rendering to Suma his four-year-old love affair with Kiranmayi (Anu Emmanuel).  (Note: One more child-like girl who is curious about listening to others' love stories.  Don't we know such girls usually find it easy to move on and actually end up moving on in movies?).  Back in Bhimavaram, Adithya was pushed to become a lecturer just to woo Kiranmayi, a college student.  A year later, it was now a mutual love that had blossomed in the space of two urgently-spaced melodies.  An insipid clash later, Adithya bid her a final goodbye.  He hasn't since cared to meet Kiranmayi.  In the presence of Suma years later, he rediscovers.  And restarts.

A place where the movie could have been taken to the next level is the campus.  It would have felt way too refreshing to watch Nani in the role of a teacher, complete with campus banter and quirks.  Virinchi Varma's vision falters here and campus humour in a full-fledged love story coming after many years goes amiss.  Posani Krishna Murali tickles the funny bone in a scene and that's all.  As for the chemistry between the teacher and his lover-student, it is stuck with fashioned ideas.  At one place, the caged parrot has the "best day of life", thanks to the hero.  What's new about it?

The conflict point doesn't hold after a while.

The biggest challenge must have been to pep up the proceedings after it's clear that one of the characters is a footnote.  Here too, it's over-used ideas like the hero giving "motivational speech" to the beleaguered girl, him saving her from eve-teasers and such and such that are deployed.  If you are entertained by them, you most likely are in too much awe of Nani.

Nani's comic timing is relied upon way too more.  It's with Vennela Kishore that Nani scores high, whereas the Sathya-Nani comedy passes muster.

Gopi Sundar's musical score (especially 'Kallumoosi' and 'Jare Jare') as well as the BGM are a highlight.  Gnanasekhar's cinematography is another big plus.

Much as Nani is over-indulged, he comes out with flying colours.  As a confident natural, he once again shines through otherwise ritual-type business.  His filmmakers would be better off if they don't seem like seeing a genius in him, though.  Anu Emmanuel has gorgeous eyes for sure and her best may yet to come, but here she doesn't get to give a dekko.  Priyasri passes muster.

Verdict:  Predictability is the least of Majnu's problems.  Rehashed ideas abound.  Much as they are not properly spaced in the first half, the songs are the discerning audience's delight.  Nani shines, naturally.

మజ్ను తెలుగు వెర్షన్ మూవీ రివ్యూ