Experience at the Theatre
I had read about Indra on different websites and heard
from people on how this movie has hyped and wanted to check
out myself to see if it was really worth the hype.
I
saw the movie at IMC6 Sunnyvale and the experience was extravagant.
The crowds drawn at the theatre were typical desi crowd who
had come to enjoy the movie their heart contend. I had noticed
that Indra drew more crowds than Devdas (read
Suhritha review on Devdas) on opening day at IMC. Even
before the movie had started people were cheering this made
me even more excited, it reminded me of India. Thanks to all
the folks who work hard in making us feel like we are not
left out by not watching the movies on the big screens.
Within
no time the crowd had settled down to watch the movie. The
fans were already cheering, whistling and dancing with excitement.
The intro of chiranjeevi was with a bang! As always he was
welcomed with showers of flowers and papers. The last chiranjeevi
movie that I saw in India in a theatre was Gang Leader.
I tell you this excitement was more than that.
Story
The
film starts with events happening between two bloodshed families
in Seema. As one of family is trying for peace making the
other is trying to make that unsuccessful. Indrasena Reddy
is introduced as a 8 year old who tries to promise to keep
peace for the love of his people.
The
next scene shown is the holy city Varnasi where newly appointed
UP governor Chenna Kesava Reddy (Prakash Raj) comes to visit
Varanasi along with his family. Pallavi (Sonali Bendre) who
is the governor's daughter is asked to take a holy dip in
the river as to get peace. When she does so her pearl chain
floats off and reaches a guy who is also performing his prayers.
Pallavi is told that when a person leaves that is dear to
Ganga their wishes would be fulfilled. Pallavi does not know
that the chain is with Shankar Narayan.
Shankar
Narayan (Chiranjeevi) makes a living by driving a taxi. His
trusted friend Valmiki (Tanikella Bharani) and a loyal assistant
Giri (Sivaji) also supports him in his work. Shankar Narayan
has a nephew and niece Nandini who he loves them more than
himself.
Nandini
is shown participating in a singing competition at BHU (Banaras
Hindu University) where her uncle helps her. Pallavi notices
her chain is on Shankar Narayan's neck. Nandini and Pallavi
are friends.
Pallavi
challenges that she will make Shankar Narayan fall in love
with her. She comes in disguise and manages to reach Shankar
Narayan's house as guest. She stays there as an orphan.
Shankar
Narayan's nephew falls in love with a Muslim girl who is a
daughter of Khan who happens to be big shot. Knowing the love
between the young ones they decide to get them married. With
the union of these two Shankar Narayan and Khan have become
good friends who respect each other. Governor learns that
his daughter is missing from University and she is staying
in the house of a taxi driver named Shankar Narayan and she
is in love with him. With help of local mafia he reaches the
family of Shankar Narayan and kidnaps and sends them in a
train. Shankar Narayan chases the bad guys in a helicopter
to get his family back.
Governor
reaches at the house of Shankar Narayan with armed men. When
he reaches there is surprised to see Shankar Narayan. He salutes
Shankar Narayan and asks him about how and why is he in Varanasi.
When Pallavi says that she is in love with Shankar Narayan,
the Governor requests Shankar to marry Pallavi. Shankar Narayan
responds saying that he will not until his niece Nandini is
married. While these discussions are going on Giri his loyal
assistant confess his love for Nandini as Shankar Narayan
learns that Nandini is also in love with Giri decides to bind
them in wedlock.
While
marriage ritual is happening a fleet of cars enters. A girl
gets down from one the cars and asks Giri alias Veera Reddy
to come along with her and takes the groom away, The Girl
is none other than Snehalatha Reddy 's (Arti Agarwal) nephew.
She challenges Indrasena Reddy to come back to Rayala Seema.
The
second half starts with flashback showing Indra doing a yagnum
for rainfall on his motherland. The release of Veera Kesava
Reddy is shown who enters seema to kill Indra. As the rituals
goes on the fight between these two takes place. Veera Kesava
Reddy is dead. As the rain hits the Seema everybody is shown
happy and merrily singing.
Veera Kesava Reddy has five sons and a daughter who is pursuing
her education in the states. When Indrasena Reddy rescues
Veera Shankar Reddy's son from an accident - Veera Shankar
Reddy sees this as a humiliation and kills his 6-year-old
son. The sister Snehalatha Reddy is attracted to Indra for
his goodhearted deeds and challenges hams that she would marry
him.
With
Seema waters being dried up Indrasena Reddy decides that he
wants to build a reservoir and meets the collector and learns
that Veera Shankar Reddy owns the place sanctioned for this.
Invites them to come to a settlement for the people of seema.
The brothers ask for his money and assets for exchange as
all 6 of them owns the land while Snehalatha Reddy asks for
Indrasena Reddy to marry her. As Indra is a man of words accepts
all the challenges and says he will fulfill them the day the
reservoir is inaugurated.
I
guess I have given the storyline and ask the visitors to go
check out the rest.
Music
Mani
Sharma was great with his foot tapping music. Bham
Bham Bhole was the crowd and my favorite, the dance of
Chiranjeevi was amazing. Radhe
Govinda had five color themes and cool steps by Chiranjeevi
and Sonali Bendre. Dayi
Dayi Damma was located in the beautiful Alps of Swiss
as always Chiru had his unique dance mocking a Veena
player. Ghallu
Ghallu was very much a situational song inviting the rain.
Ayyo
Ayyo and Ammadu
Appachi were ok.
Performance
Chiranjeevi
known for his fights and dances in Indian movie industry has
not disappointed his fans inspite of his age. Sonali the gal
with the legs did a good job. While Arti suited for the role
she lacked the skills and was unable to catch up with the
moves of our Megastar.
Brahmanandam,
MS Narayana and Dharmavarapu Subramanyam's entertainment in
the first half as small time cons who cheat the pilgrims at
Varanasi. SP Balu as judge. As already mentioned in Jeevi's
review, Prakash Raj was redundant with his performance.
Sunil performed well in his cameo role.
Verdict
Indra
is a perfect mix of the class and the mass and worth watching
on the big screen.
Tell
Suhritha how you liked the review
Other
Links:
Indra Records
USA Schedules
Jeevi review
Telugu text dialogues
Audio
function photos
Sreya Audio
review
Juke Box
Photo Gallery
Wall Papers
Aswini
Dutt Interview
Mega Posters
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