Radha Review

'Radha', starring Sharwanand in the lead role, has hit the screens today.  Here we tell you what is in store...

Story:

Radha Krishna (Sharwanand) has had a high opinion about police ever since he was a child.  A B-grade Lord Krishna devotee, he grows up to be a cop because he believes that cops are the modern-day saviours the Bhagawad Gita might have talked about.

Posted in a town known for zero crime rate, he becomes a romantic, woos Radha (Lavanya Tripathi) and moves on to Dhoolpet, wherein he has a tiff with a sidekick of the Home Minister (Asish Vidhyarthi).

A political rivalry between the HM and Sujatha, the CM candidate of People's Party (played by Ravi Kishan), ensues.  Twelve policemen, including two constables (played by Shakalaka Shankar and Brahmaji) who are dear to Radha Krishna, are killed in a bomb blast.

It's up to Radha to take a decision of a lifetime and take on those responsible for the the death of the constables.  The curtains are now raised for a funny game of juvenile wits involving the hero and the main antagonist (that is, the CM candidate).

Analysis:

There is a method to imbecility as far as some of the so-called hero-versus-villain movies are concerned.  'So-called' is because there is only a hero, while the villain is miraculously reduced to a robotic creature after a point.

A hardened political schemer who conspired bomb blasts and communal riots all his career is utterly clueless in dealing with a Sub-Inspector (yes, a mere SI) who may be knowing an inconvenient truth.  This villainous politico is seen either watching TV news about his downfall with trepidation or taking/making calls frantically now and then - all because a well-networked wannabe CM can't even protect his black money from a dozen cops, nor can he save the DNA report of a pseudo-son from being screwed up by a joker of a doctor (Ali)!

All of this in the name of entertainment.

Pitted against such a joker of a villain is the SI's army of police patriots who get enormous things done in a jiffy (once, how they do it is not even narrated).  The death of twelve cops makes the hero's every single team member filled with so much of single-minded discipline and hunger for revenge that they might be either drugged or are clones of Rajamouli's Avatantika!  One poor superior actually tells our unchallenged hero this line: You shouldn't have screwed up a politician (or something close to this).  So, many in the department know about how the hero is (seamlessly) ruining the career of a political heavyweight and yet he faces no obstacles.

All of this in the name of entertainment.  There is a method to imbecility.

Then the rom-com track.  Debutante director Chandra Mohan makes Sharwa do a Nani here and a Nani-on-steroids there.  If that doesn't ensure over-the-top comedy, nothing else in this world can.

Lavanya Tripathi is ready in fall in love.  After all, the hero is that sexy.  At least that is what the director thinks about his hero.

Somewhere in the middle of first half, you realize that basic lessons about script-writing have been thrown to the winds.  In not a single scene till then is the hero seen showing any other emotion, except (affected) comic timing.  It's only once in the entire first half that he is seen betraying a non-comic emotion, thanks to an urgently done bonding scene involving his constables.

Somewhere in the second half, the director-writer pulls off a Freudian Slip.  "Successful formula ani vadanu", a naughty Sharwa says in a scene involving Lavanya and Aksha (in an extended cameo, including an item song).

Sharwa comes into his own in the pre-climax and climax episodes when he is serious.  His comic timing needs massive improving.  Ravi Kishan of 'Race Gurram' and 'Supreme' fame is a very good actor whose potential could have been better explored.  Lavanya looks beautiful in the colourful costumes.  Sapthagiri's 'Nannaku Prematho' parody draws laughs aplenty. JP Reddy's comedy is routine, while Shakalaka Shankar is failed.

Radhan's music works better on the big screen, thanks to the proper visualization.  The cinematography by Karthik is perhaps the best technical aspect.  Editing is fine.

Verdict:

A formulaic cop story, the comedy could work for a section of audience.  The villain's character is the Achilles' Heel.  Traces of some films are palpable.  At least the climax could have had some gravitas.

రాధ తెలుగు వెర్షన్ మూవీ రివ్యూ