Katama Rayudu Review

Katama Rayudu Review, What’s Behind: Post ‘Sardaar Gabbar Singh’ disaster, Pawan Kalyan selected this remake of Tamil hit film ‘Veeram’ and director Dolly of ‘Gopala Gopala’ fame is back to helm it. Shruti Hasan, Anup Rubens, Prasad Murella are other major attractions to have helped the film in early promotions. Let’s see, how far Pawan lived up to the mountainous expectations from Fans in the later review part.

Katama Rayudu Story: Rayudu (Pawan Kalyan) is a powerful and commanding personality in a Rayalaseema village living happily with four brothers (Shiva Balaji, Chaitanya Krishna, Ajay and Kamal Kamaraju) and friend Lingam (Ali). Rayudu is of an opinion that marriage and women in life affect family relations. So, he keeps his house away from the reach of girls. As all the brothers are secretly in love with their girlfriends, they sketch a plan to make bachelor Rayudu fall in love. 

Thus a non-violent and peace loving Avantika (Shruti Hasan) enters into Rayudu’s life bringing a new color of love. Exactly at a time when Avantika plans to bring Rayudu before her father (Nasser), she observes the action and blood thirsty nature in Rayudu. 

Unable to forget Avantika, immediately Rayudu lands in her village where again new troubles are waiting in the form of Bhanu (Tarun Arora). How Rayudu saves Avantika’s family from a dreaded goon Bhanu is rest.

Katama Rayudu Artists and Technicians: Story and screenplay is a direct rip off from original ‘Veeram.’ Yet, names like Vema Reddy, Vasu Varma and Deepak Raj given with the task of further refining the original screenplay hasn’t improved the final output. In turn it has done irreparable damage, especially in second half. 

Director Dolly showed his expansive expertise in capturing vast action scenes, which is something new on Power Star. Heroism elevation, buildup shots are also handled well. However, a little more concentration on bonding the family emotions and tightening the romantic track with loose villainy could have made film cohesive. 

Dialogues are good only in parts. Prasad Murella camera work is top notch making every visual colorful and bright. Goutham Raju’s compact editing in first half went vague in later portions. Ram Laxman’s stunt choreography is faultless. Songs from Anup Rubens aren’t really catchy. Except title song, none of them are canned effectively. BGM is worth a mention. Production standards from Sharrat Marar are also good.

Onto artists, Pawan Kalyan is a delight to watch in title role. His costumes and mannerisms will keep Fans in whistles. In fact, Pawan’s ease at performing deadly action scenes is yet again earmarked with this film.  There’s no big attraction than Power Star for ‘Katama Rayudu’ to sell. At the same time, his biggest drawback with dances can’t be excused more. Shruti Hasan got a meaty character which lost spine in later portions. She seems to have lost charm on face and that alluring curvaceous physique too. Romantic track on Pawan, Shruti is entertaining. Rao Ramesh is the next artist who makes ample impact with an unstinting dialogue delivery. Unfortunately, he too was removed from main proceedings in second half. Shiva Balaji, Chaitanya Krishna, Ajay, Kamal Kamaraju and Ali are fine while Prudhvi failed. Naazar is upright as a retired judge and father to heroine along with Pavithra Lokesh. Villains Pradeep Rawat and Tarun Arora are wasted. Rest may not need big mention.

Katama Rayudu Advantages:

Pawan Kalyan

First Half

Camera Work

Interval Bang

Katama Rayudu Drawbacks:

Second Half

Thin Storyline

Age Old Treatment

Cliché Scenes

Violence, Bloodshed

Disoriented Villainy

Weak Music

Katama Rayudu Rating Analysis: Fundamental reasons behind Pawan and Marar picking ‘Veeram’ remake despite it was prior released with dubbed version ‘Veerudokkade’ are the emotional, entertainment strength in family track with brothers and packed action part. Dolly was genuine to action and a section of entertainment but crashed on emotions. Yet, he was trying to comfort and please audience with those typical Fan moments placed at regular intervals covering the stumbling blocks in story, screenplay. 

First half kicks off on a meritorious note with Pradeep Rawat’s antagonism and Pawan Kalyan’s dynamic retort paving way for wonderfully canned title song. Immediately into other side of story is the bond between brothers is dealt light hearted. Classical dancer Shruti Hasan’s entry gives new energy and romance brews up. All the scenes in this part of narrative are impressive. In between, Rao Ramesh clearly dominated. After a couple of songs, story drives to interval block with a high voltage train fight (weak CG) well shot closing the first half on a definite super hit note for wholesome family entertainment.

Into second half, Dolly lost the track with unconvincing and over stretched scenes diluting all the characterizations. Till the time Pawan-Naazar meet at a temple, Dolly was doing fine but once Pawan enters into Shruti’s house, there on everything went wrong. Prudhvi and Tarun Arora are forcibly inserted making the whole commercial outing meaningless. Unable to connect with too many villains and unused brothers, whole plot went wayward. Both the songs here on are wrongly placed and poorly shot. Towards climax, Dolly tried to pull up the loose ends but was too late.

In totality, ‘Katama Rayudu’ is a far better movie than Pawan’s last outing ‘Sardaar.’ A super hit first half and below average second half made ‘Katama Rayudu’ overall an above average flick. Power Star Fans can treasure few moments. Commercially, there’s no opposition for Pawan Kalyan in the first week while a long run is definitely a no. In B, C centres, there begins a Power festival. Cinejosh goes with 2.75 stars and recommend it for a one time watch. 

Katama Rayudu Verdict: Pawan Kalyan, One Man Show.

                                                Katama Rayudu Rating: 2.75/5.0

                                                                                      Reviewed by Srivaas