Shankaradada Zindabad - Review

Film: Shankaradada Zindabad
Cast: Chiranjeevi, Srikanth, Karishma Kotak, Pawan Kalyan, Sada, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Allu Arjun (guest appearance), Ravi Teja (guest appearance), Kanta Rao, Rohit, Shayaji Shinde, Yana Gupta and others
Dialogues: Parachoori Brothers
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematography: Chota K Naidu
Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Art: Ashok
Fights: Vijay
Produced by: Gemini Film Circuit
Screenplay and directed by: Prabhu Deva
Release Date: July 27, 2007
CBFC Rating: U

What's it about!

Shankardada (Chiranjeevi), a loveable goon, is in love with the voice of a Radio Jockey Jahnavi (Karishma Kotak). A contest leads him a meeting with her and their acquaintance flourishes into a friendship. He wants to marry her and she thinks he is a professor which he is not. When she asked him to give a lecture, he is in dilemma to reveal true identity or not. At the same time, he comes to face to face with Mahatma Gandhi. How Mahatma makes Shankardada realize the importance of telling the truth always and practising non-violence is rest of the story. Shankaradada's buddy ATM (Srikanth) is also helps in his mission.

First things first!

Shankardada Zindabad, sequel to Shankardada MBBS and remake of super hit Hindi film - Lage Raho Munnabhai, is here. Before delving into more, let us see what works for the film and what not..

What works..

1. With Pawan Kalyan acting in a guest role in a Chiranjeevi's film for the first time, Allu Arjun, Nagabau and Ravi Teja making their brief appearances, Shankardada Zindabad is some sort of multi-starrer movie and the presence of stars together itself is a feast for mega fans.

2. The walking style of Chiranjeevi and his larger than life presence.

3. Music by Devi Sri is top rate. Two songs - Good Morning Hyderabad and Akaleste ..Annam Peduta, are shot superbly and have brought verve on to the screen.

4. It is faithful remake of Lage Raho Munnabhai and the story and the message might appeal to the urban center audiences.

5. First half is entertaining.

And What doesn't..

1. It lacks energy and entertainment that one expects from a Chiranjeevi movie.

2. Second half is too heavy for a common audience to digest and doesn't have the 'feel' of the original.

3. The Gandhism and the film's message are apt to the onscreen image of megastar Chiranjeevi but it is not properly told. The director has not worked well on the script. The reason for villain vying the 'Second Innings' building that belongs to heroine is not told. The emotional scenes have not handled poignantly.

4. The heroine is biggest minus

Analysis

Lage Raho Munnabhai (LRM) was one of the best films coming out from Bollywood in 2006. Its Telugu version, directed by Prabhudeva, is carbon copy of the original but some changes are made to suit the Chiranjeevi's image. Pawan Kalyan's dialogues and a fight sequence, an item number and fast paced songs are some the major changes in the Telugu version. These changes have worked out to some extent. Especially in the second half, Pawan Kalyan's entry and the item number have lifted the mood.

Where Shankardada misses the track is in the department of comedy, dialogues and glamour. While LRM, had best one-liners and full of entertainment, SDZ lacks them. Even Shankardada MBBS had better comedy. And apart from that, the heroine is awful choice. The cameraman has tried hard to not show her in full shot. Not a single frame is shown her 'back'. Thank Chota K Naidu for that.

It has poor production values. Some scenes are just lifted the original (the pan-chewing scene and old man seeking pension seems to have cut from LRM and pasted here).

Performances

Chiranjeevi has mastered the art of playing characters with mass and comedy touch. In the role of Shankardada he is good. But he should take care of his looks and weight. His dances are good, though. Pawan Kalyan in a brief role, plays to the galleries. Srikanth as ATM is very good, though he has not much to do in this film. Allu Arjun, Devi Sri Prasad, Nagababu, Ravi Teja have a flash appearance.

Karishma Kotak doesn't have screen presence nor does have acting skills. She is biggest weak aspect of the film. Sada gives appreciable performance. Shayaji Shinde as the villain is perfect. Dilip Prabhavalkar as Mahatma Gandhi is okay.

On technical side, Devi Sri Prasad scores in big way. His music is foot tapping. Cinematography Chota K Naidu is just okay. Dialogues by Parachoori Brothers are so weak. In the original, dialogues were like dynamites.

Bottom line

Shankardada Zindabad is on the whole is a decent film but not that appealing and entertaining. For those who have seen the original, it is a big disappiontment. It has a message that suits for the image of Chiranjeevi but lacks the entertainment one expects from Chiranjeevi's film. Music and Chiranjeevi and presence of other stars are plus points.

Reviewed by Navya Vaitla

P.S: It is always tough to bring the original 'feel' of the poignant films such as Lage Raho Munnabhai, Rang De Basanti, Pitamagan, Autograph, etc. So it is better not to be remade.