The prince is back and probably the first time that Mahesh Babu’s movie is having a remarkable opening in Tamil as well. Releasing as Selvandhan in Tamil and Srimanthadu in Telugu, the movie has Mahesh babu joining hands with director Koratala Siva and the majestic Jaggubati Babu and glamorous Shruti Hassan as well. Mahesh Babu’s tryst with Chennai goes back to his college days and so he is no new comer here, the film basking on his mass and family entertainment values looks to break Baahubali’s BO and create its own path. Let’s find out what the movie is all about.
Mahesh Babu is Harsha, the son of multi-millionaire Ravikanth(Jaggubathi Babu), a son who wants to create his own destiny and lives a simple life as compared to his father who wants his son to head the empire. The director has showcased his intentions without much fuss, a young man who wants to break free and do something to the society by freewill, Mahesh Babu fits the character quite comfortably with his charming looks gives the millionaire look and as he pedals his way into the rural areas displays a perfect Samaritan .
Shruti Hassan is Charusheela the lovely lass who studies Rural development and her acquaintance brings Mahesh Babu to college and the romance has been rather brought about in a subtle and more practical way rather than the stereotyped candy pop version. The director springs enough twists and coincidences in the form of two villains who happen to have a deadly past with the millionaire. Half way through the movie we get to see romance, a few mass elements from the superstar, sentiments and all that you can expect from director Siva.
As Harsha realizes his interest in serving others and gets to understand his past so shoots off to his hometown a remote village and starts to bring about a change to the dark and under developed village. As the plot sets in, the director turns the drama around people wanting to leave their nativity and family for various reasons, money, career and much more luxurious things than what really matters most. After a colorful romance mixed first half, the second chugs along the rural milieu with a couple of twists and turns.
Pluses and Minuses: Mahesh Babu carries the film forward with his enormous mass presence. For Tamil audiences who longed to see the prince on screen it sure is to serve as a treat, although Tami fans are not really a big fan of dubbing apart from Hollywood biggies, this is a good start. Mahesh traverses different shades with ease and most importantly worked on his dancing big time, kudos. Shruti Hassan bags a meaty role and is more than just the heroine who wants to run around the bush just for the songs, her character as a dedicated family girl who wants to do service to her roots sets foundation for the movie. Jaggubathi Babu’s displays flair as a wealthy man who struggles to find his roots and as a concerned father. With a solid story, Siva has done justice amicably. DSP’s songs are just average reminds of his various other movies, but the BGM stands apart from the rest.
The cinematography effects in the village portions of the movie have been captured neat and well, set the mood aptly. One of the biggest strengths of the movies remain the director’s intention on not to induce too many commercial elements which would simply overtake the sentiments into mass, which has been carved in to an acceptable level.
Verdict : On the whole, Mahesh Babu’s first venture into Tamil as Selvandhan is a commendable family entertainer with enough mass elements.
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