Pandavulu Pandavulu Tummeda Review

Behind the Movie PPT: First of it’s kind; a celebrity family of Tollywood is here with all their family members united in a multi star treat. With Manchu family here to take all of us on a comedy ride, let us see how far they succeeded in making us laugh?

In the Movie PPT: Story begins in Bangkok introducing a travel guide Naidu (Mohan Babu), a father who adopted three orphans Ajay (Manchu Manoj), Varun (Varun Sandesh) and Lucky (Tanish). In the same city, there is a restaurant owner Satya (Raveena Tandon), a mother who adopted two sons Vijay (Manchu Vishnu) and Kishore (Vennela Kishore). In a small flashback, Naidu and Satya were once upon a time love birds who are separated due to Satya’s greedy dad Subbu (Dasari). Once Naidu and Satya come face to face, they cherish on old memories while Vijay’s girl friend Honey (Hansika) unites both the families. However, Honey has a troublesome backdrop of rivalry between two villages Pandava Puram and Kaurava Puram headed by Dharmanna (Giri Babu) and Suyodhana (Mukesh Rishi) respectively. Honey is the only daughter of Dharmanna escaped from the clutches of Suyodhana. Story takes a sharp turn when Suyodhana’s group forcibly takes away Honey to Kaurava Puram. How did Pancha Pandavulu (Mohan Babu, Vishnu, Manoj, Varun Sandesh, Tanish) react? What kind of sketch they made to bring back Honey from Kauravapuram? What are the identical similarities of these Pandavas with Virata Parvam, Keechaka Parvam in Maha Bharath is the rest.

Values & Out of the Movie PPT: Taking it straight, the best part of the film is just some portions in second half when Manoj turns Mohini wooing the sons of Mukesh Rishi with adult and double meaning comedy. Although, it is a treat to see entire Manchu family heroes together on screen, the feel could have been cherished for long if treatment of director Sriwass was better. Entire first half is a lift from ‘Golmaal 3’ and real comedy part comes only in second half when Pandavas travel to Kaurava Puram where actual fun begins. Writing by Diamond Ratnababu fell flat on nose for first half. May be the involvement of BVS Ravi, Kona Venkat and Gopi Mohan in second half lifted the pitch. These kinds of plots are a cake walk for them which saved movie from becoming a dud. Cinematography of Palani Kumar is pretty ordinary work and MR Varma’s editing also falls in same grade. 

Scene conceiving of Sriwass was in fact bad to terrible in the start. Introduction of Mohan Babu and the flash back with Dasari, Raveena says it all. It’s in fact the 1980 and 90s kind of treatment used in 2014. Even the duet shot on Mohan Babu and Raveena, a bummer. Performance wise Mohan Babu’s dialogue modulation and tongue twisters stood as fort. His rapport with Raveena worked to some extent. On the other hand, scenes etched between Vishnu and Manoj groups in first half aren’t really entertaining. In pre interval block, Tanish did a good job revealing a simple secret in mime. Vishnu as Mohini stole the show running a lengthy comedy track while Brahmi as ‘Baapure’ and Pranitha as his daughter were entertaining. Among the others, Varun Sandesh, Vennela Kishore and Gurleen Chopra were just for name sake. Supreet, Shravan and Bharani as sons of Mukesh Rishi did a fine job. Music by Achu and Bappa Lahari also had no great shakes. 

If entertainment is the only factor which would decide Box Office stamina of a film, then PPT succeeds only to second half. In fact, the comedy incorporated in this half is also clichéd and enjoyed umpteen times in Srinu Vytla and Manchu Vishnu’s earlier films. So, there is nothing innovative and new to mention in this region. This also means, audience can easily guess every twist and turn coming next in narration process. Blame it on uninspiring screenplay. Coming to production values, there was a huge miss of grandeur or richness on screen. I could not understand whether that was a problem in projection system (at Cinemax) or is it the moderate production values maintained by Manchu family. However, the VFX used in some action scenes were of very low quality.  

Commercially, PPT might gamble on huge openings because of presence of an extravagant star cast. For audience who just love formula entertainment enjoyed many a times in the past, there is something for you in second half and for others, this is hardly passable. 

Cinejosh Verdict of PPT: Less of Honey - More of Agony

                                                           Cinejosh Rating: 2.75

                                                                                     Reviewed by Srivaas