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Vijayendra Varma

The events that have surrounded this prestigious film of Balakrishna are good enough for a masala film.

Firstly, Balakrishna, who is playing a military officer's role (some reports say that he is a RAW officer. If it is indeed so, that will be ridiculous as RAW officers never wear military fatigues), hurt himself during the shoot in Rajasthan.

That delayed the film, directed by Swarna Subba Rao, by some weeks.

Then there was the infamous shoot-out incident in his house. It also meant that he couldn't attend the shooting for two months. And then there was a mysterious murder at Balakrishna's residence. Though it has not hindered Balaya's work in the film, it surely has cast a shadow on the probable mental shape of the actor.

But both the producer and the director are pretty gung-ho that despite the avoidable troubles, the film has shaped up well.

It's better.

For, at stake is Balakrishna's entire career.

He himself has, however, said, "it will be a memorable role in my career". Balakrishna is playing a military man for the first time in his 25-year-old career, excluding a brief appearance in fatigues in the film `Mangamma Gari Manavudu'.

The film has the tag line `Power of Indian', and no surprises for guessing that the story has plenty of nationalism and patriotic fervor.

Subba Rao says "It is the tale of a high-ranking military officer who brings pride to the nation."

The director, however, adds that the film is not just about patriotism alone. It is a complete entertainer ,he says.

There is plenty of glamour too in the form of three young heroines ---- Ankitha, Laya and Sangeetha. The songs, some of which have been shot in Switzerland, have come out well. For Ankitha this film is a good chance to cement her place at the top. Laya and Sangeetha too would be hoping that their fortunes take a upswing after Vijayendra Varma's release.

Subba Rao, a past master in masala movie, has fused a love story into this patriotic theme to make it a fulsome entertainer. The film is set for September release (songs are expected to be out any moment).

Interestingly, apart from the late N.T. Rama Rao and Krishna, Telugu stars have avoided playing the role of an army officer as it is considered slightly risk in terms of commercial returns.

For Balakrishna, the role in military fatigues comes after the fatigue of his personal life incidents.

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