Movie : Rajanna
Director : Vijayendra Prasad
Producer : Nagarjuna Akkineni
Cast : Nagarjuna, Sneha, Annie, Shweta Menon, Nasser
Rajanna, produced by Nagarjuna under his Annapurna Studios banner, was marketed well across the state.
The movie is directed by father-son duo � Vijayendra Prasad and Rajamouli. The film is inspired from an uprising in Nelakondapalli in 1948 against feudalism.
Rajanna (Nagarjuna) and four of his friends (Pradeep, Rawat, Ajay and Supreet) oppose the British rule and try to motivate the people through revolutionary songs.
After1947, Rajanna realises that India got independence from the British, but is reeling under the oppression of the feudal lords. Rajanna saves Lachchamma (Sneha) from the clutches of a feudal villain, and marries her.
He continues his fight against the gentry and tries to awaken the people with his songs and speeches. He also kills the tyrannical rulers and finally gets killed in the hands of a Nawab. Rajanna`s adversaries also try to eliminate his wife and daughter Mallamma (Baby Annie). However, Lachchamma saves Mallamma and in the process gets killed.
Sambayaa (Nasser), a music teacher of the same village saves Mallamma and brings her up as his grand daughter. Mallamma, meanwhile, develops hatred towards the landlords and transforms that hatred into songs. She becomes the target of the anger of land lords. Mallamma who resembles Rajanna wants to save the people of her town and leaves for Delhi.
Mallamma meets Prime Minister Nehru and urges him to save her people from the lords. She finally emanicipates her people.
BabyAnnie is excellent as Mallamma. The character of Rajanna is very special and different from all the characters Nagarjuna has done so far. Nag has proved his mettle again. Sneha does justice to her role. ANR`s voice over at the beginning and the end of the film is one of the highlights.
Nasser is a big asset to the film. Director Vijayendra Prasad should be commended for writing a great script, perfectly in tune with the times of the British Raj and the Rajakars movement in Telangana. The screenplay clearly reflects the Rajamouli-brand.
Keeravani scored music that is apt for the movie from the start to the finish, apart from tickling the audience with an aura of revolutionary songs.
Cinematography and editing are big pluses to the film. Art work is extraordinary. Both the first and second halves are equally balanced and boredom is kept at bay, despite treating a semi-historical subject.
Verdict: Worth a watch