Mukunda Review

'Mukunda' being a seemingly hero-centric title, one expected the Mega hero to be indulged like crazy.  What is in store, however, is an overdoing of Rao Ramesh, making us wonder if Srikanth Addala could not resist him ever since watching the final copy of SVSC.

Watching Varun is like watching a grossly under-utilised Prabhas in a semi-mute role.  With no romance and comedy, he is ever on the verge of breaking into a violent mode.  Meanwhile, his bete noire, Rao Ramesh, the 5-time Municipal chairman who is more powerful than the sitting MLA, comes across as someone who is in awe of Varun's repartees.  When Mukunda is around, his wit can scorch the arrogant rival.  After a few moments, the subdued villain rationalises his behaviour in front of his 'chamchas', while letting free the "kurradu" to molest his honour.  All along we seek a plot in vain.

After trying a family entertainer, Srikanth sets a conversational action entertainer in a more or less same cultural setting.  The backdrop gives him the luxury of revealing some more of his humour.  In an avoidable flaw, Varun's character is allowed to be overshadowed by Rao Ramesh's.  For all the witty lines that are peppered here and there (giving us a sense of deja vu), there is an element of overstatement running through the film.  As in SVSC, the male lead effortlessly charms the heroine, but this time the girl has to admire her guy overtly or covertly till, well, the last minute of the film.

The director is clearly in excessive love with his dialogue-writing style, a love comparable only to Srinu Vaitla's love for his dialogue-writing style.  In one stroke, the reticent hero who rarely speaks but speaks cleverly can win a victory over his prime rival and the entire town before you know.

Varun has a friend for whom he is an all-weather buddy.  The friend's love affair with Rao Ramesh's brother's daughter is the trigger point for the rivalry between Varun and Rao Ramesh.  Varun every time humiliates the arrogant politician who can't brook opposition with his verbal intimidation.  Not just him, even his father (played by Parachuri Venkateshwara Rao) can send the bloody chairman packing through his repartees!

There is Prakash Raj, the frustrated Indian who mocks at Indians, lives on the roadside, and who owes all his intelligence to English-language dailies.  After you have reconciled to the fact that the film has no story, no romance, no heroine with a hero, the tough nut bursts open on the election scene propping up the aam admi Prakash Raj.  Mickey J Meyer marshals a soft tune from his limited repertoire at this juncture, and after the song you see Rao Ramesh's defeat.

If the narrative is devoid of the regular commercial elements that we get to see, somehow the understated heroism doesn't work.  While Varun may be quite talented, he is under-utilized, just as actresses often are. The intention may have been to depict him as a dumbed down version of SVSC's Mahesh Babu - smiling never, speaking less, romancing only in a duet or two.

It is hardly exciting if the villain is shown to have goosebumps when someone is filing is nomination.

Technically, the production values pass muster.  The art work and Marthand K Venkatesh's editing are good.

Varun has the verve to portray the tough guy role.  He has chiselled looks and renders a restrained performance.  he could be essaying a suave role in a slick action film. If the best of Varun may be yet to come, Rao Ramesh proves his mettle yet again.

Verdict: Sans loudness and crassness, Mukunda has a scent of SVSC.  But it lacks a good story and barring less than four scenes, it hardly has anything to keep up our interest.

Rating: 2.75/5

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