Genre: Action
Banner: Sri Sai Ganesh Productions
Cast: Bala Krishna, Shriya, Tabu, Devayani, Annapurna, Jayaprakash Reddy, Raghu Babu, Siva Krishna, MS Narayana, Brahmanandam, Ali, LB Sriram, Chalapati Rao, Ahuti Prasad, Vizag Prasad, Pruthvi
Music: Mani Sharma
Photography: Ajay Vincent
Fights: Vikram Dharma
Art: Raju
Choreography: Lawrance
Editing: Gowtam Raju
Story - Screenplay - Direction: VV Vinayak
Production: Bellamkonda Suresh
Release date: 25th September 2002

Rayalaseema faction stories are moving in a set pattern now. This story is no different. The hero stays somewhere and returns to his village to wreak vengeance. Like in Bharata Simha Reddy, Balakrishna plays the dual role of father and son - a factionist and a sincere police officer, respectively. The father-son clash looks routine and dilutes the spirit of the movie.

The film opens with son's character, Bharat who's an ACP. His boss' (Vizag Prasad's) daughter Preethi (Shriya) falls in love with him. All this love drama happens in some city, which is far away from the hero's native town Pulivendula in Rayalaseema. Bharat's whereabouts are a guarded secret, as his family enemy (Ananthraj) is on the prowl to kill him.

A parallel story is that of Bharat's father Chennakesava Reddy. A police officer (Sivakrishana) stationed at Pulivendula keeps this politician Ananthraj and his men under check. He notices a statue in the village and learns that it is of one Chennakesava Reddy, supposed to have been dead.

He is then transferred to Tihar jail where he finds Chennakesava Reddy serving sentence for the last 22 years. He manages to get him out legally. Chennakesava Reddy's return turns out to be a big event for the natives of Pulivenula, including his wife Devi (Tabu).

But Ananthraj is shocked and is forced to leave the palatial building of Chennakesava Reddy he was occupying till then. The police officer son also returns. But he resents his father's criminal record and his wish to finish his rivals. This friction between father and son proves to be the weakest point of the film. There comes the flashback at this stage, explaining why Chennakesava Reddy is bent upon taking revenge. The film has a gory end.

Balakrishna presents well the two roles of father and son. Only Devayanai who plays Chennakesava's sister has some sensible role connected to the main story, while Tabu and Shriya just play secondary roles. Comedy takes a back seat with Brahmanandam and L.B. Sriram failing to make and impact. Mani Sarma's music score is interesting.

courtesy: The Hindu