3 December 2011

My Movie - Si Ramarajyam

Ramayana! The story we have been listening, never boring and even refreshing every time we hear it. I have been eagerly waiting to watch Sri Rama Rajyam since the day it was announced, because it’s being made by reputed “acha telugu” director-writer combo in Telugu cinema called "Bapu-Ramana". Nonetheless to say, I can’t imagine how passionate they are when it comes to Ramayana and specifically when portraying the protagonist-RAMA. My curiosity got multiplied when the names of the actors for main characters were unfolded and did not want to miss the opportunity to watch it on silver screen presented by Sri Sai Babu, Bapu-Ramana garu, Ilaya raja, ANR, Balakrishna and Nayanatara.

I have watched the premier show of this movie in world gate theatres, Virginia and have prepared my eyes to blink less frequently (Bapu raamudu ni kallara chudataniki). They used BAPU’s drawings of Ramayana on the title cards. The movie opens with the best song of the album “Jagadaananda Taaraka” showing Rama and Sita coming back to ayodhya, after 14 years vanavasam, to retain the kingdom.

I liked the following scenes:

• The scene between Sita and Rama playing with a tamarind was so mischievous in Bapu’s unique sensuous style in slow motion and with beautiful lines in the background that goes ... Idi Rama Prema lokam.. Ila Saaagi povu sneham..(ఇది రామ ప్రేమ లోకం .. ఇలా సాగి పోవు స్నేహం .. )
• The close-up shot that captures Rama’s dismay when he learns from one of his spies what people are talking about how Rama accepted Sita in spite of her being in the captivation of Ravana for about 10 months. It was performed brilliantly by balayya as well. And the camera covers pretty much all the face to create the necessary impact.
• The close-up shot when Rama cries at the feet of Sita, while she was asleep, before sending her to forest.
• The shot where Rama look, from the fort, when Lakshmana takes Sita to forest to leave her there.
• The top view shot before kousalya dreams, how Sita’s seemantham would have been if she is in the Ayodhya. In this shot we see Raama at the corner of gigantic palace pondering deeply about Sita.
• All the postures of RAMA in the first half (ones we see from bapu drawings), gives you godly feeling.

First, I would like to laud Sai Babu garu for not only presenting this mythological project to us but also for his passionate effort to produce a master piece. Should really appreciate his guts towards bringing this movie, to remind us our traditions, in the times where faction movies/item songs are more popular.

ANR did his bit well. BalaKrishna proved once again that he is one of very few actors, in recent generation, to carry the mythological roles. In that aspect, he is close to his father and a legendry actor Later NTR. Should appreciate balayya for accepting the project and taking it to the next level. His dialogue modulation is impeccable. His subtle expressions and pleasant smile (Dhara haasam) is mesmerizing as lord RAMA. But on a smaller note, the dialogue modulation, where he cries for Sita, should have been better in uttering the emotional words.

I always believed in nayana tara that she is a performer when it comes to soft roles than meaty roles. In spite of all criticism Nayana Taara definitely exceeded the expectations as Sita. Not to forget dubbing done by Sunita also helped the character and brings tenderness to the character.

Thanks to late Ramana garu for simplifying the dialogues for current generation. Emotional dialogues written for Sita will bring you tears. He also injected some humor in the second half by transforming hanuma into bala raju to take care of Sita, lava and kusa. Showing the Sita seemantham in two versions (One in ayodhya, one in ashramam is appreciable.

Ilaya raja’s music composition and re-recording is mellifluous. It’s an asset for the movie. SPB, Chitra and Shreya Ghoshal rendered the songs soulfully.

All the songs were written by Jonnavittula. I should say he has done great job in writing all the songs in a language that can understood by current generation. Each and every song will teach you about Ramayana and Rama.

I like the lines he wrote on agni pareeksha:

Evvaraki ee pareeksha… enduku ee pareeksha? (ఎవ్వరకి ఈ పరీక్ష … ఎందుకు ఈ పరీక్ష ?)
Sree raamuni bharya kaa seela pariksha? (శ్రీ రాముని భార్య కా శీల పరీక్షా ? )
Dasaradhuni Kodalika dharma pariksha? (దశరధుని కోడలిక ధర్మ పరీక్షా ?)
Janakuni kuturuki aa anumaana pariksha? (జనకుని కూతురుకి ఆ అనుమాన పరీక్షా ?)
Ramuni pranaaninakaaa?, setha dehaanikiaa??.. sooryuni vamsaanikiaa? (రాముని ప్రానానినాకా ?, సేత దెహానికిఆ ??.. సూర్యుని వంసానికియా ?)

The kids who did roles of lava kusa did very well, especially when they say they no more adore RAMA after knowing he has sent this wife alone to forest even when she is pregnant.

On the flip sides some of the scenes where Rama confronts with himself between Sita and rajyam, when rama asks his bothers to dissolve him from the kingdom and let him go with the Sita should have been handled little better.

I recommend this movie to every Telugu movie lover to watch it on silver screen..

Kannualku kamaneeyam aina, BAPU gaari Sri Rama Rajyam ki velli, sri Raamuni vaibhogam chusi, sita raamula kashta sukhalalo paalu panchukuni tarinchandi.

Thanks,
Sandeep Manukonda
sandeep dot manukonda at gmail dot com

More My Movie experiences:
Sri Ramarajyam by Srini C
Sri Ramarajyam by Sreekanth
Sri Ramarajyam by Kumar
Sri Ramarajyam by Sarada
Sri Ramarajyam by Sarath
Sri Ramarajyam by Kiran
Gaganam by fan
Ala Modalaindi by Lalli
Ala Modalaindi by Deepthi
AOD by King Koduru
Rakta Charitra 2 by Sreekanth
Rakta Charitra 2 by Mahesh
Orange by Dayakar
Rakta Charitra 1 by Sreekanth
Robo by Sreekanth
Maryada Ramanna by Kumar
Inception by Kumar
Bheemili by Nani's sister
Raavan by Lalitha Spoorthi
Vedam by Praveen
Vedam by Ratnakar
Vedam by Laya
Vedam by Naveen Soma
Vedam by Pavan
Vedam by Deepak
Vedam by Manohar
Vedam by Sridhar A
Vedam by Sarath Chandra
Vedam by Murthy
Vedam by Kumar
Vedam by Santosh
Vedam by Sreekanth D
Prasthanam by Ravi
Prasthanam by Suresh
Prasthanam by Amarnath
Prasthanam by Krishna Chaitanya
Prasthanam by Che
Prasthanam by Purnesh
Prasthanam by Kumar
YMC by Kumar
YMC by Mallik
YMC by Satya
YMC by Anurag Reddy
YMC by Ramskott
YMC by Dellcom
YMC by Ashok
YMC by Ramya
YMC by Sudheer
YMC by Laya
YMC by Survi
YMC by Rajeev
YMC by Pavan
YMC by Rohit
Inkosaari by Avanthi
Inkosaari by Sneha
YMC by Praveen
YMC by Rajani
YMC by Sujith
Inkosaari by Ganesh
Leader by Sreekanth D
Maya Bazar by Gopal
Mahatma by Kishore
Baanam by Stanley
Josh by Nathan
Magadheera by Ashok
Magadheera by Wannabe Director
Magadheera by Shanti
Magadheera by Anitha
Magadheera by SS
Oy by Prathna
99 by Bala Thirumalasetty
Veedokkade by Srinivas
Delhi 6 by Vamsi
KIKK by Sweta
Luck by Chance by Srini
KIKK by Lalitha Spoorthi
Arundhati by Naveen
Arundhati by Srini
Arundhati by Bharat
Sasirekha Parinayam by Santhi Venkat
Sasirekha Parinayam by Vamshi Muthapu
Sasirekha Parinayam by Niharika Reddy
Nachavule by Vamsi Krishna
Neninthe by movie lover
Avakai Biryani by Vamsi Krishna
Kotha Bangaru Lokam by Vamsi Krishna
Kotha Bangaru Lokam by S
Ashta Chemma by Deepthi
Ashta Chemma by Lalitha Spoorthi
Sarkar Raj by Pradeep
Jalsa by Lalitha Spoorthi
Gamyam by Sridhar
Gamyam by Sreekanth D
Gamyam by Sanjay
Halla Bol by Purnesh
Taare Zameen Par by Ashok Varma
Taare Zameen Par by Raja Simha
Happy Days by Krishna Sastry
Chirutha by Phani Kumar
Chak De India by Ravi
Yamadonga by Lalitha
Chak De India by Shyam
AMAV by Darsakudu
5 in March by Sashidhar
Okkadunnadu by Anand
Black Friday by Ratnakar
Desamuduru by Krishna Prasad
Guru by It's opinion
Dhoom 2 by Lalitha Spoorthi
Dhoom 2 by ASK
Don - Syam
Boss - Anand
Boss - Hrithik
Stalin - Bala
Bommarillu - Nandini
Bommarillu - Darsakudu
Bommarillu - Vasu
Bommarillu - Harsha Prakash
Bommarillu - Lalitha Spoorthi
LRMB - Shravan
Bommarillu - Anirudh
LRMB - Srinivas
LRMB - Darsakudu
LRMB - S Sridhar
Bommarillu - Shridevi
Bommarillu - Vasudev
Bommarillu - Roopa
Sriram - Godavari
Sarath - Bangaram
Bala - Pokiri
Srinadh - Allari Pidugu
Sudheer Allari Pidugu
Anu - Athadu
Shyam Krishna - Iqbal
Purnesh - Grahanam
Sudhindra - Super
Vijay - Aparichitudu
Madhav - Aparichitudu
Hazaraon Kwaishein Aisi
Swades
Shyam - Black
Sai - Anand
Rohit - Anand & Veer Zaara
Jaya Prakash - 7GBC
Raj - Anand
Purnesh - Anand
Purnesh - The Village
Sriram - Gudumba Shankar
Purnesh - Gharshana
Purnesh - Lakshya
Purnesh - Yuva
Leenesh - Yuva
Kis - Lakshmi Narasimha
Indian Pride - Tagore
Raj - Boys
Phani - Gangotri
Phani - Khadgam
Vikram - CKR
BKR - Indra (Singapore)
Ram - Indra (Dubai)
Ranjeet - Idiot
Rahul - Indra
King Koduri - Indra
Srilakshmi Katragadda - Mitr: My Friend