I watched the premier show of Khaidi No. 150 on 10th Jan in London's Safari Cinema. I am a fan of Chiranjeevi, and took pride in buying tickets for a couple of my friends to celebrate his return to the big screen. Let me however guarantee that I wish to offer an unbiased review of the film. I'll probably find that hard to do and realise I might involuntarily show some bias so I can see myself reviewing this review a few times before I publish. Consider this a promise.
Let's get the EXTERNAL FACTORS out of the way first:
Chiru returned to the cinemas after a long 9 year break and believe me that felt like a century for his ardent fans. I am not one of those but I did wait nevertheless. Unlike your average Indian hero who is either blessed with parental membership of the film fraternity or a one-trick pony, Chiranjeevi is somewhat unique and special. His successful career and stardom are credit entirely to his own commitment and hard work that several of his peers have continuously been inspired by but struggled to replicate. He is someone who has by his fans (obviously) and by critics been unanimously accepted as a 'complete' actor. Some of you may find this an exaggeration but I suggest the skeptics to stop and think - how many actors can you think of (lets say within the realm of Indian films) who can deliver action, comedy, dialogues, emotion, dance with grace and conviction? As irrelevant as these aspects may seem to this review, let me assure you these are extremely important 'external' factors that influence the viewers' reception of the movie. All these characteristics of Chiranjeevi make him someone greater than just the actor in him, they make him someone who is very loved by audiences of all ages, classes and across generations. Not all of these consider themselves Chiranjeevi's fans but for the most part enjoy watching him on screen. Now consider this: you are a fan or someone who just likes Chiranjeevi, getting to watch his new film after a 9 year gap, and you have convinced yourself that it is Chiranjeevi so it's got to be entertaining. Film-makers call this the burden of expectations but in reality what they try to do is to cash in on the nostalgia.
The ECONOMICS:
I have explained my concerns in my BB2 review about how tickets are priced in the UK and the US particularly for popular films. Khaidi No. 150 is no different. I paid £20 for each ticket which needless to say is ridiculously expensive. The industry needs to seriously think about regulating ticket prices instead of just raking in millions in the name of entertainment.
Looking at the other side of the economics - what was spent in the making of the film and what it made, wikipedia says INR 50 Cr was spent and grossed INR 164 crore during its primary run. Gone are the days when the length of run, 100 days of showing and 365 days of showing used to be the yardstick. How much the film makes in money terms seems to be the only metric that everyone seems most interested in. The returns on this film aren't bad - 3 times the investment is pretty darn good.
One observation I wanted to share: A friend of mine who lives in Bengaluru said to me that Khaidi No. 150 has brought the 90s back. What he was referring to was the bike rallies across Karnataka, AP, Telangana and Tamil Nadu and the frenzy around the movie. My first reaction to that was a sense of satisfaction that my favorite hero's film was being received so well. (we call them heroes and heroines remember, not just male and female lead actors!). However I realised I/we shouldn't be celebrating these things. This whole phenomenon of being so entrenched in 'heroism' is the single biggest reason for the absence of advancement in our films.
One observation I wanted to share: A friend of mine who lives in Bengaluru said to me that Khaidi No. 150 has brought the 90s back. What he was referring to was the bike rallies across Karnataka, AP, Telangana and Tamil Nadu and the frenzy around the movie. My first reaction to that was a sense of satisfaction that my favorite hero's film was being received so well. (we call them heroes and heroines remember, not just male and female lead actors!). However I realised I/we shouldn't be celebrating these things. This whole phenomenon of being so entrenched in 'heroism' is the single biggest reason for the absence of advancement in our films.
Let's move to CONTENT:
The nostalgia I mentioned earlier is what the director V V Vinayak tried to recreate in Khaidi No. 150. And he did so in the most cliched way possible. To sum the story up, it is about highlighting the plight of farmers who have for years been succumbing to corporate greed, and how a do-gooder fights the corporate world to put an end to those problems. Sounds like you've heard it somewhere? Yeah that's because you have. There have been several films with this theme but from most recent memory would be Katthi, the Tamil movie starring Vijay. I have heard in interviews and read online the commentary around Chiranjeevi & crew choosing a remake to re-launch the Megastar, while the so called 'mega'-camp maintains that there is nothing wrong with picking a remake if the original had a good story, good theme, a social problem and so on. I don't dispute that the theme of the story is strong despite being one we've heard already, but let's not forget that this is the re-launch of a much loved screen icon and it's not like they didn't have a choice of stories. In that sense this is a safe bet, and while I can understand the strategy from a commercial standpoint, I have little respect for the fact that creativity has been completely sidelined. The movie has been extremely successful despite this criticism and Chiru's fans conveniently blamed V.V.Vinayak (the director) for selecting such a plot but it is no secret that the mega-camp have also been known to get into every little detail in the making of the film so they are equally to blame.
There are certain good things in the film though, the most striking being the awareness of farmers' difficulties that the movie tries to bring to attention of a vastly urbanised India. When I say vastly urbanised I am not talking about the numbers - I do realise there are more villages than towns and all those statistics - what I am talking about is the impact of the urban population on food consumption and it's effect on those who sow the seeds. Hundreds of thousands of farmers have killed themselves in India over the last 30 years due to a multitude of issues. If you care enough please read this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-28205741 . Now STOP! and THINK! for a minute. That's not just to grab your attention, it is a genuine request that you stop and think. These are the people cultivating everything we eat and they are dying because their own families cannot have more than a meal a day! We should all be ashamed of these numbers more than any other social problem in my view. The problem is serious and Khaidi No. 150 (and previously Katthi) contribute in their own way to bring some visibility to the issues. It's not necessarily an eye-opener but definitely a stark reminder of the society we've created. One might argue that it is not ethical to commercialize such serious problems but I view cinema as a delivery vehicle. In this case it delivers the message. It certainly could have been done a lot more effectively.
Now lets not confuse the story with the story-telling. As touching as the story might sound, there should have been a more structured approach to telling it. There are some very touching moments particularly during the flashback part of the story, and the grain of the film allows you to feel it, however the constant urge to showcase the lead actor's strengths takes your attention away from the issue at hand. It's a tricky situation for VVV because he has to not only try to deliver the message but also use all of Chiru's abilities to leave us that 'nostalgic' feeling. Afterall it is Chiranjeevi that the crowds are going to come see on the screen. In this conflict of competing priorities VVV takes the safe route which is to bank on the Chiranjeevi factor.
There isn't much to write home about the rest of the content in the movie. It doesn't bore you but doesn't interest you intensely either. Even for the non-fans there is entertainment in the form of songs, average comedy, one interesting but not hugely impressive fight sequence and some emotions that work. All that said I didn't feel any of it truly classy or extra-ordinary. There is a comedy sequence with Ali dressed up as a woman (or was it meant to be a transvestite) that I found particularly irritating. What is it with our directors? Why does comedy have to be born out of cheap dressing or by throwing insults or slapping other humans? I don't find such scenes funny anymore and would urge everyone to reject such comedy as it only encourages similar disrespectful treatment of people in real life. Think I am exaggerating? Then think for a second about the behaviours of kids these days and question if any of that is influenced by our movies.
Overall there is a limited amount of real content in Khaidi No. 150 however the screenplay ensures there is pace and vigor so it's an easy watch.
Ok so what about the MAKING:
As I alluded in my previous section, there is pace, there is a flow that doesn't bore you along with a handful of moments that really glue you to the screen. It's not like it's perfect though! In fact there are several gaps that the director probably expects you to ignore in exchange of more screen time for Chiranjeevi. There are several moments where sequences end abruptly, seem forced and clearly rushed. They don't necessarily bother the viewer but at the same time don't leave you with many memorable moments.
Unlike several previous movies of Chiranjeevi, the fight sequences aren't particularly unique or special. The infamous coin fight has impact but let's respect the fact that the original was in the Tamil version of the movie. I don't necessarily approve of elaborate fight sequences that are just there for the heck of it. My preference is for fights and stunts that are slick, quick and smart. There isn't anything of that sort in Khaidi No. 150.
The songs do entertain, and some of them do so immensely. Outdoor locales have been chosen with care but I did wonder when we are going to do away with 'white' dancers in songs shot abroad. I chose 'white' as opposed to just 'foreign' because that seems to be a very deliberate choice. How many times have you seen supporting dancers being of African origin? The choreography is generally good, and has been adapted to Chiranjeevi's agility which let's admit isn't the same it was 10 years ago. That said what's lost in the pace of dances, Chiranjeevi more than makes up for that with his arguably unmatched grace.
The fact that I am unable to think much more about the making probably speaks volumes.
Everyone is interested in PERFORMANCES. So am I and here is what I thought:
There are actors, and then there are performers. This movie has 1 of the latter kind and whole heap of the former. Chiranjeevi is the heart, the soul and the cash-register of this movie. He is over 60 yrs old and while his age does show somewhat, what he delivers is his unique trademark grace as if he never took a break. His dialogue delivery remains a strong suit, with a particularly impressive scene where he speaks to the media about farmers' problems. Some of the dialogue delivery does appear somewhat awkward due to the editing. Chiranjeevi is loved for his ability to deliver comedy and it's often been said that mainstream comedians don't really have a role to play in Chiranjeevi's films. While that may be true in general, there isn't enough room for comedy in Khaidi No. 150. There is some, but not entirely successful. The 2 areas that remind the viewers why Chiranjeevi has been in the number one position for such a long time are his expressions and dances. Even in scenes that seem somewhat abrupt and lazily edited, Chiranjeevi shines with his display of a mix of emotions. Anger, seriousness, sorrow and sentiment - he does it all and does so quite well. And coming to dances - we see quite often that people tend to compare the dance-abilities of all the actors but they never throw Chiranjeevi into the mix, because he is believed to be and accepted unanimously that he is in a league of his own when it comes to dances. He proves this one more time. He makes even the most subtle moves seem so graceful that you feel like you can't get enough of it. Yes I am a fan and yes I can be biased but this subject I believe is undisputed.
I really don't want to mention performances of any of the others just because reviews tend to do so. There are many other actors in the movie, but no-one stands out!
Just remembered I didn't say much about the MUSIC:
The music by Devi Sri Prasad has mixed results. Some of the background score is pretty intense during the flashback scenes but it doesn't work so well during most of the rest of the film and I blame editing for that. Background score during the 'coin fight' is also noteworthy. Songs have dance-able tunes complimenting Chiranjeevi's strengths in this area. That said none of it is extraordinary. We will probably hum the songs for sometime (fans might revel in them for longer), hear it in functions, parties and weddings but these songs won't be in anyone's 'melodies' section of their jukebox 5 years down the line. I have to say however that the song 'Neeru Neeru Neeru' is indeed extremely good thanks to Shankar Mahadevan's incredible voice and emotional depth.
Time to Wrap this up. I've been writing this for the last 6 days so I better publish it.
So that brings me to the summary.
Writing this review nearly 5 months after the movie came out, I fully realise many wouldn't have any interest whatsoever in this review of mine. I am writing this because I wanted to, so please try not comment on how pointless you might consider this review to be.
Overall I think Khaidi No. 150 would have disappeared from the screens if it weren't for Chiranjeevi. The director did a reasonable enough job given the circumstances but nothing that leaves you with a lasting experience.
Chiranjeevi, his son and everyone else in their multi-starrer family enterprise must realise that they need to be a lot more creative with their movies and the content. As the most powerful unit of the Telugu Film Industry they have the responsibility to produce movies that set some serious standards for the future and not the same old hero centered films with incoherent stories woven around them.
Rgds
RONANKI
There are certain good things in the film though, the most striking being the awareness of farmers' difficulties that the movie tries to bring to attention of a vastly urbanised India. When I say vastly urbanised I am not talking about the numbers - I do realise there are more villages than towns and all those statistics - what I am talking about is the impact of the urban population on food consumption and it's effect on those who sow the seeds. Hundreds of thousands of farmers have killed themselves in India over the last 30 years due to a multitude of issues. If you care enough please read this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-28205741 . Now STOP! and THINK! for a minute. That's not just to grab your attention, it is a genuine request that you stop and think. These are the people cultivating everything we eat and they are dying because their own families cannot have more than a meal a day! We should all be ashamed of these numbers more than any other social problem in my view. The problem is serious and Khaidi No. 150 (and previously Katthi) contribute in their own way to bring some visibility to the issues. It's not necessarily an eye-opener but definitely a stark reminder of the society we've created. One might argue that it is not ethical to commercialize such serious problems but I view cinema as a delivery vehicle. In this case it delivers the message. It certainly could have been done a lot more effectively.
Now lets not confuse the story with the story-telling. As touching as the story might sound, there should have been a more structured approach to telling it. There are some very touching moments particularly during the flashback part of the story, and the grain of the film allows you to feel it, however the constant urge to showcase the lead actor's strengths takes your attention away from the issue at hand. It's a tricky situation for VVV because he has to not only try to deliver the message but also use all of Chiru's abilities to leave us that 'nostalgic' feeling. Afterall it is Chiranjeevi that the crowds are going to come see on the screen. In this conflict of competing priorities VVV takes the safe route which is to bank on the Chiranjeevi factor.
There isn't much to write home about the rest of the content in the movie. It doesn't bore you but doesn't interest you intensely either. Even for the non-fans there is entertainment in the form of songs, average comedy, one interesting but not hugely impressive fight sequence and some emotions that work. All that said I didn't feel any of it truly classy or extra-ordinary. There is a comedy sequence with Ali dressed up as a woman (or was it meant to be a transvestite) that I found particularly irritating. What is it with our directors? Why does comedy have to be born out of cheap dressing or by throwing insults or slapping other humans? I don't find such scenes funny anymore and would urge everyone to reject such comedy as it only encourages similar disrespectful treatment of people in real life. Think I am exaggerating? Then think for a second about the behaviours of kids these days and question if any of that is influenced by our movies.
Overall there is a limited amount of real content in Khaidi No. 150 however the screenplay ensures there is pace and vigor so it's an easy watch.
Ok so what about the MAKING:
As I alluded in my previous section, there is pace, there is a flow that doesn't bore you along with a handful of moments that really glue you to the screen. It's not like it's perfect though! In fact there are several gaps that the director probably expects you to ignore in exchange of more screen time for Chiranjeevi. There are several moments where sequences end abruptly, seem forced and clearly rushed. They don't necessarily bother the viewer but at the same time don't leave you with many memorable moments.
Unlike several previous movies of Chiranjeevi, the fight sequences aren't particularly unique or special. The infamous coin fight has impact but let's respect the fact that the original was in the Tamil version of the movie. I don't necessarily approve of elaborate fight sequences that are just there for the heck of it. My preference is for fights and stunts that are slick, quick and smart. There isn't anything of that sort in Khaidi No. 150.
The songs do entertain, and some of them do so immensely. Outdoor locales have been chosen with care but I did wonder when we are going to do away with 'white' dancers in songs shot abroad. I chose 'white' as opposed to just 'foreign' because that seems to be a very deliberate choice. How many times have you seen supporting dancers being of African origin? The choreography is generally good, and has been adapted to Chiranjeevi's agility which let's admit isn't the same it was 10 years ago. That said what's lost in the pace of dances, Chiranjeevi more than makes up for that with his arguably unmatched grace.
The fact that I am unable to think much more about the making probably speaks volumes.
Everyone is interested in PERFORMANCES. So am I and here is what I thought:
There are actors, and then there are performers. This movie has 1 of the latter kind and whole heap of the former. Chiranjeevi is the heart, the soul and the cash-register of this movie. He is over 60 yrs old and while his age does show somewhat, what he delivers is his unique trademark grace as if he never took a break. His dialogue delivery remains a strong suit, with a particularly impressive scene where he speaks to the media about farmers' problems. Some of the dialogue delivery does appear somewhat awkward due to the editing. Chiranjeevi is loved for his ability to deliver comedy and it's often been said that mainstream comedians don't really have a role to play in Chiranjeevi's films. While that may be true in general, there isn't enough room for comedy in Khaidi No. 150. There is some, but not entirely successful. The 2 areas that remind the viewers why Chiranjeevi has been in the number one position for such a long time are his expressions and dances. Even in scenes that seem somewhat abrupt and lazily edited, Chiranjeevi shines with his display of a mix of emotions. Anger, seriousness, sorrow and sentiment - he does it all and does so quite well. And coming to dances - we see quite often that people tend to compare the dance-abilities of all the actors but they never throw Chiranjeevi into the mix, because he is believed to be and accepted unanimously that he is in a league of his own when it comes to dances. He proves this one more time. He makes even the most subtle moves seem so graceful that you feel like you can't get enough of it. Yes I am a fan and yes I can be biased but this subject I believe is undisputed.
I really don't want to mention performances of any of the others just because reviews tend to do so. There are many other actors in the movie, but no-one stands out!
Just remembered I didn't say much about the MUSIC:
The music by Devi Sri Prasad has mixed results. Some of the background score is pretty intense during the flashback scenes but it doesn't work so well during most of the rest of the film and I blame editing for that. Background score during the 'coin fight' is also noteworthy. Songs have dance-able tunes complimenting Chiranjeevi's strengths in this area. That said none of it is extraordinary. We will probably hum the songs for sometime (fans might revel in them for longer), hear it in functions, parties and weddings but these songs won't be in anyone's 'melodies' section of their jukebox 5 years down the line. I have to say however that the song 'Neeru Neeru Neeru' is indeed extremely good thanks to Shankar Mahadevan's incredible voice and emotional depth.
Time to Wrap this up. I've been writing this for the last 6 days so I better publish it.
So that brings me to the summary.
Writing this review nearly 5 months after the movie came out, I fully realise many wouldn't have any interest whatsoever in this review of mine. I am writing this because I wanted to, so please try not comment on how pointless you might consider this review to be.
Overall I think Khaidi No. 150 would have disappeared from the screens if it weren't for Chiranjeevi. The director did a reasonable enough job given the circumstances but nothing that leaves you with a lasting experience.
Chiranjeevi, his son and everyone else in their multi-starrer family enterprise must realise that they need to be a lot more creative with their movies and the content. As the most powerful unit of the Telugu Film Industry they have the responsibility to produce movies that set some serious standards for the future and not the same old hero centered films with incoherent stories woven around them.
Rgds
RONANKI
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