Mass - Dammunte Kasko
Nagarjuna has of late been carrying the mantle of a stylish hero. His last few films (Santosam,Manmadhudu, Sivamani, Neunnanu) have been portraying him in urban yuppie, lover-boy roles.
In Mass (Dammunte Kasuko), he returns to his roots, so to says. In his home production, Nagarjuna plays the street-smart, invective-mouthing but good-at-heart rowdyish ruffian. It is a character that is popular among all the heroes in Tollywood. It is the role of the indigent underdog who triumphs over rich and evil (in the context of Indian films both are egrettably the same).
There is still no official word on the story of the film. But with the songs and the promos already out, it is not difficult to guess what the story could be. It is a tapori kind of role for Nags. He doles out earthy justice and triumphs over the villains Raghuvaran (the scheming type and Rahul Dev (the fighting type). But before he finishes off the malcontents, Nags also gets to waltz around with the heroines Jyothika and Charmy.
Interestingly all the pre-film publicity has been centred on Charmy. She is said to play a lady rowdy kind of role while Jyothika is playing a more suave and gentle character. The songs, by Devi Sri Prasad, are quickly climbing up the popularity ladder. They are primarily what the trade calls as 'mass types'. In that, it is good for a few larks and some quick steps.
Understandable it is, for dance master Lawrence is the director of the film. So he has naturally gone in for songs that readily lend them to nifty movements. It is a major gamble that Nags has taken by going in for an untested force like Lawrence as the director. But Nags himself feels that his confidence has paid off. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken the distribution rights for Andhra and Utharandhra himself. Nags feels that the bewitching brocade of fights, songs and sentiments will surely click at the box office. The film's title makes it clear as to what the audience can expect.
But the masses' expectations are always a huge mass (as in weight).