'Nenu Local', coming from Dil Raju's banner, hits the screens today.  Here is our review.

Story:

Babu (Nani), a failure at studies, is a self-styled philosopher who believes having two sets of TVs/beds at home can ruin the family system.  Middle-class-ism is his core ideology.  Because of such virtues, only he and he has the vibrancy to 'disturb' (a euphemism for everything from pulling the legs to making a way into her virgin heart) the most beautiful girl (Keerthy Suresh as Keerthy) in the town.

Now, Keerthy's otherwise accomplished dad (played by Sachin Khadekar) can handle everything in life, except this local dude with an attitude of his own.  In comes Siddhu (Naveen Chandra as cop), more eligible to marry Keerthy.

Can Babu win Keerthy when the ball is in her dad's court?  Does he compare favourably when he hardly has the capability to earn the minimum wage of Rs. 40,000 per month?  Can Babu's love survive his attitude?  That's the crux of the second half.

Analysis:

After the not-so-mainstream films 'Mem Vayasuku Vacham' and 'Priyathama Neevachata Kusalama', Trinadha Rao Nakkina took recourse to formulaic stuff starting from 'Cinema Choopistha Mava'.  Re-introducing the good-for-nothing but eminently pure-hearted screen hero of the '90s, 'Nenu Local' is perhaps the most rehashed story ever done by Nani.

Riding high on Nani's image and the characterization of Babu, this film packs in some of the best-sold elements: parents who lend logistical and moral support to the hero's attempts at winning the heroine's heart as if he was studying MBBS against all odds, a heroine who finds happiness in the most humble house instead of those dirty palatial residences, a dad who behaves as if he has no brains when his daughter's lover comes up with a statement on why Gold rings and Mother's Day are unlovely/anti-love, a competitor (Naveen Chandra) who is invariably impulsive and self-defeatist waiting to be taught a lesson by our strategic hero who enjoys public/media support, if not Donald Trump's backing.

At one level, 'Nenu Local' is not only predictable but also extensively self-indulgent.  At times, it goes over-the-top in projecting Nani, so much so, we are expected to clap in excitement as he imitates NTR and narrates a short story (Gajendra Moksham), Rajinikanth-style!

The usual suspects are there: Eve-teasing (once again, Prabhas Sreenu lends his services as he did in 'Shatamanam Bhavati'), media support, local power, etc.

The rom-com scenes are largely hilarious thanks to the dialogues, although they fall short at the level of ideas.  For how long will our heroines do, like robots, exactly what the hero expects of them?  "You will sit next to me if you are confident that you won't fall for me," the hero tells her and she does it to prove her strength (ironically).  The hero had just read a love letter for the entire college to hear it, but the principal asks her, "Did he torture you?"  Such an intelligent screenplay, we tell you.

The screenplay writer shows sparks for sure, here and there.  The scene where Nani attends Keerthy's engagement, unannounced, complete with Chiranjeevi's dance moves, is superb.  The way Nani peeves Sachin Khadekar, his future 'mavayya', in the first few scenes is another example of creative screenplaying.

Naveen Chandra could well have his career's game-changing movie here.  He acts confidently, shows the right streak and proves a match.  Some of the scenes involving Posani and Nani are rib-tickling.

It's Nani's film all the way.  With his comic timing and screen presence, he carries whole scenes on his shoulders (or should we say attitude?).  Keerthy Suresh passes muster.  The second half has less of her, but she makes her presence felt in the songs.

Sachin, Posani and Eeshwari Rao fit the bill.  Raghu Babu and Vennela Kishore are seen in bit roles.

Devi Sri Prasad's songs get a nice visualization every time.  The title track could have been better.  Nizar Shafi's cinematography is excellent.

Verdict:

'Nenu Local' is Nani's one-man show, by and large.  A formulaic film, Prasanna Kumar Bejawada's dialogues come as a highlight.

నేను లోకల్ తెలుగు వెర్షన్ మూవీ రివ్యూ