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Sarileru Neekevvaru links:
• Mahesh Babu interview
• Anil Ravipudi interview
• Rashmika interview
• Devi Sri Prasad interview
• Anil Sunkara interview
• Pre release function
• Song launch
• Photos
• Posters
• Movie launch
Jeevi
rating: 3/5
Punchline: Mahesh slays it
Genre: Action
Type: Straight
Banner: AK Entertainments, Sri Venkateswara Creations and GMB Entertainment
Runtime: 169 minutes
Censor Certificate: U/A
Release date: 11 January, 2020
Theater watched: The Cinemas, Guntur
Online streaming partner: Amazon Prime
Cast: Mahesh Babu, Rashmika Mandanna, Vijayasanthi, Prakash Raj, Sangeetha, Tamanna, Hariteja, Rajendra Prasad, Rao Ramesh, Raghu Babu, Ajay, Jaya Prakash Reddy, Satyadev, Vennela Kishore, Subbaraj, .etc
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematographer: Rathnavelu
Art: AS Prakash
Action: Ram-Lakshman
Lyrics: Ramajogayya Sastry, Sri Mani & DSP
Editor: Tammiraju
Story, Sreenplay & Direction: Anil Ravipudi
Producers: Anil Sunkara, Dil Raju & Mahesh Babu
Sarileru Neekevvaru links: |
Ajay (Mahesh Babu) is an army officer. Bharati (Vijaya Shanthi) is a professor and is a forthright woman in Kurnool. Local MLA (Prakash Raj) is a bad man. Ajay is asked to visit Bharathi to deliver bad news of her son’s critical injury in army. He is supposed to deliver the message only after her daughter’s wedding. Rest of the story is all about how Ajay sets things right for Bharathi and reforms the local MLA. 
Mahesh Babu: Mahesh Babu has become one dimensional in the last few films (Srimanthudu, Bharath Ane Nenu and Maharshi) because he has played characters that requires a similar body language and modulation. His character in Sarileru Neekevvaru is a treat for everybody. He brought out his entertaining skills to provide a great comic relief with his dialogue delivery and body language. He has put great efforts and offered a lot of variety in dances too (especially Mind Block song). He is electrifying in action sequences. It’s been a long time since we saw Mahesh Babu in all colorful and mass avatar and Sarileru Neekevvaru quenches that thirst.
Others: Vijaya Shanti did a role of a strict/righteous academician. She brings out the respect needed for that character. Rashmika Mandanna is given an over-the-top characterization (same eccentricity of Mehreen character in F2). Her screen time is limited and her scenes are more like episodical and is not connected with the story at all. She is good. Prakash Raj is seen on a Telugu screen after a huge gap. He is terrific. Rao Ramesh who enthralled the crowds with one-man-show in latest release Pratiroju Pandage comes up with another hilarious performance as father of the heroine. Rajendra Prasad is a regular in Anil Ravipudi’s films. He has donned the role of a sidekick to hero in this film. Subbaraju and Vennela Kishore are wasted in a one-episode role. Tamanna sizzled as herself in an army entertainment song. Ajay is good. Jaya Prakash Reddy, Sangeetha, Hariteja, Raghubabu, Satyadev etc make their presence felt. 
Story - screenplay - direction: Story of the film is about how an army officer helps an elder lady in confronting a politician in Kurnool. The basic story of an army officer coming to help a family of his colleague is a little similar to a Hollywood film The Guest (2014). Though the story of the film is thin, director Anil Ravipudi has concentrated on his strengths of entertainment (comedy) and mass elements. He has added his style of characterization to Mahesh Babu. The lengthy train episode is hilarious (barring thieves part). Love angle in the film in unidimensional with heroine chasing hero with a love proposal. Action part is well choreographed and is placed at the right time. Director has made sure that there is entertainment at regular intervals. Alluri Seetharamaraju references are cleverly used in the film. However, the climax is unconventional and the runup to the climax is unconvincing. Anil Ravipudi has shown Mahesh Babu in color and made sure that audiences fall in love with Mahesh.
Other departments: Background music by Devi Sri Prasad is very good. Mind Block, Dangdang and He is so cute are good on the screen. Cinematography by R Ratnavelu is excellent. Dialogues written by Anil Ravipudi are entertaining. He has stuck to his trademark pattern of having one-liner for each character in the film. Action sequences by Ram Laxman are powerful and make an impact. Editing is alright. Art direction by AS Prakash is good. Production values by the banners of Anil Sunkara, Dil Raju and Mahesh Babu are grand.
Analysis: It's been years since we saw Mahesh Babu playing a character that has scope for an all-round performance. Sarileru Neekevvaru gives us the best of Mahesh Babu as entertainer. He adds a lot of value and charishma for a film with a feeble story line. Plus points are Mahesh Babu, entertainment and commercial elements. On the flipside, second half of the film is very slow and goes off the track. On a whole, Mahesh Babu charishma and star value work for Sarileru Neekevvaru.