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Cast: Upendra, Nayanatara, Ali, Dhandapani, Tulip Joshi and others
Dialogues: Shashank Vennelakanti
Cinematography: Ashok Kashyap
Produced by: Rockline Venkatesh
Story, screenplay and directed by: Upendra
Release date: Mar 11, 2011
What’s it about!
NRI Subash Chandra Gandhi (Upendra) loves everything about India - its culture, traditions and girls. He owns a big business company in London. He falls in love with Indira who comes to London on a cultural programme. On the first night of their marriage, he gets the real shock. He gets to know that Indira married him with ulterior motive. As the mystery unravels, more and more interesting things happen.
Analysis
Kannada superstar Upendra has loyal fan following in Andhra Pradesh thanks to his earlier dubbed movies like ‘A’ . As a director he picks up unusual subjects, and presents them in even more different manner. Even though he returns to direction after a decade, his quirky attitude, eccentric style of characterization for the lead hero, twists and turns, and some punch dialogues are still there. Titled Upendra Super , the movie has wonderful subject.
The movie is his angst against current rotten political system, a masala coated satire. He has chosen his heroine Indira to represent our country India. India aka Indi(r)a. In one of the scenes, the male lead attempts to rape her played by Nayanatara and the director symbolizes this scene as rape of the natural resources by mining mafia, and greedy politico businesses. Several metaphors are there throughout the movie.
Like Tamil director Shankar, Upendra’s movies all about society and need for change. In Shankar’s movies, protagonists fight for better society, while in Upendra’s movies the protagonist turns rebel and acts as vigilante, at the same time, the protagonist blames the system for the mess. In this film too, he criticizes the people for not caring for public lands, natural resources. But like always, he tells the movie in eccentric way and selects path of rowdism. A rich NRI turning a rowdy is hard to comprehend. That is why the film doesn’t float high even though the concept is super.
Upendra has used reverse screenplay technique in the movie, so entire movie happens only in the second half. The movie really picks up in the last one hour and that part is highly engrossing with some good dialogues. But silly comedy, bookish dialogues and gaudy presentation in the first half are drawback.
Performances
Upendra plays his role in his trademark style and also his dressing and mannerisms this time are more close to Rajnikanth. But more than as actor, he should be praised for his directorial skills. As writer and director, he is superb. His idea is very novel but a little care in presenting the movie would have been better. Anyhow, Upendra as writer and director proves his mettle once again.
Nayanthara comes out with good performance. Tulip Joshi in a minuscule role is okay. Ali and other comedian’s comedy is not that entertaining although their names and behaviour (Cheddy brothers, a satire on Gaali brothers in Karnataka) brings smile.
On the technical side, the visual graphics of highly developed India are good. Cinematography by Ashok and music are average. There are some punch dialogues (Shashank Vennelakanti) but on the whole they are too bookish. Producer Rockline Venkatesh has put in lot of money for this movie.
Bottom-line!
Upendra Super has novel storyline. It is full of metaphors and great satire on the current rotten political system. Second half is very interesting. Though the movie is not in the league of Upendra’s earlier directorial ventures, but it is definitely a good watch.
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