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Sye Raa links :
• Pre release - Hyd
• Pre release - Bangalore
• Trailer launch
• Teaser launch
• Posters
• Photos
• Movie launch
Jeevi
rating: 3.5/5
Punchline: Compelling period action drama
Genre: Action/Biopic
Type: Straight
Banner: Konidela Production Company
Runtime: 170 minutes
Censor Certificate: U/A
Release date: 2 October, 2019
Theater watched: Sailaja Theater, Vijayawada
Cast: Chiranjeevi, Amitabh Bachchan, Jagapathi Babu, Nayanthara, Kiccha Sudeep, Vijay Sethupathi, Tamannaah, Niharika, Anushka Shetty, Raghubabu, Pruthvi, Brahmaji, Ravi Kishan .etc
Music: Amit Trivedi
Background music: Julius Packiam
Cinematographer: Rathnavelu
Action: Greg Powell, Lee Whittaker & Ram-Laxman
Lyrics: Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry, Chandrabose & Anantha Sriram
Production Designer: Rajeevan Nambiar
Costumes:
Sushmita Konidela,
Anju Modi,
Utthara Menon
Editor: A. Sreekar Prasad
Dialogues: Sai Madhav Burra
Story: Paruchuri Brothers
Sreenplay & Direction: Surender Reddy
Producer: Ram Charan
Sye Raa links : |
Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy (Chiranjeevi) is the palegar (ruler) for a small region in Rayalaseema in 1850’s. British’s East India Company is strengthening its presence and troubling the people with excessive tax system. There are around 60 such small regions ruled by different palegars in and around Rayalaseema. After witnessing the exploitation by British, Narasimha Reddy opposes them. When British retaliates, he gathers all his people and unites palegars of the neighboring regions to fight against British. Rest of the story is all about how he ends up being an inspiration for the future freedom fighters.
Chiranjeevi: Chiranjeevi didn’t get many films to show his acting prowess after he became the megastar. Sye Raa gave him an excellent opportunity and he comes up with a splendid performance. You see less of megastar and more of an actor in this film. At the same time, there is excellent heroism portrayed through emotional scenes and action sequences. His performance in climax is spellbinding.
Other actors: Amitab Bachchan is excellent as guru of Narasimha Reddy. Kichcha Sudeep steals the show with his maveric acting. Vijay Sethupathi is genuine. It’s a key role for Jagapathi Babu. Anushka Shetty plays the cameo of Jhansi Lakshmi Bai through whose point of view the story is told. Nayanatara plays the role of wife of Narasimha Reddy. Tamanna gets a purposeful role of a revolutionary singer and does extremely well towards the climax of the film. Raghubabu plays the role of a bad guy. Pruthvi is good. Brahmaji plays the role of sidekick to Narasimha Reddy. The man who hogged limelight is Saichand as an inspiring Subbayya. He is extremely good. Ravi Kissan does another vital role. All the actors who were cast as britishers did well. Pawan Kalyan’s voiceover is an icing on the cake..
Story - screenplay - direction: The writers (Paruchuri brothers) have taken the character of Narasimha Reddy and his uprising against British empire as the basis. The writing team of Sye Raa took this basic story and modelled it in a typical Hollywood war film style and presented on a rich canvas. The entire uprising and war sequences appear fictional. Palegar is shown as a king with lavish attire and heavy jewellery. Surender Reddy has made sure that the story of the film is presented well. He has added commercial elements. He has shown Chiranjeevi as a warrior in an excellent way. The guerrilla style warfare and the indegenous war techniques used by Narasimha Reddy team are good. He has also added some twists towards the end in a convincing way. The fighting style in action sequences that come in the first half before interval episode remember us of Chinese war/period films. The bulls scene in the opening part remind us of Lion King and Baahubali 2. The character of Subbayya is written very well and it creates impact. Climax is the heart of any good film. Despite having a tragic climax, director Surender Reddy made sure that he immortalised the character in a right way with an inspiring speech followed by a surprise action block. He has mixed emotion in all action sequences well and didn’t deviate from the main story. This is his best film and he has attained complete grip over technical departments as well as on the story telling.
Other departments: Cinematography by Ratnavel is outstanding. His work is impeccable and flawless. Songs scored by Amit Trivedi are very good. Sye Raa title track is shot excellently. Background music by Julius Packiam is exceptional and adds a lot of emotion to the scenes. Dialogues by Sai Madhav Burra are excellent and speeches written are inspiring. Production design by Rajeevan is of top-notch standard. And it’s done very aesthetically. Visual effects of the film complement the grand scale of the film.. Editing by Sreekar Prasad is just perfect except for a scene that was cut abruptly. Action sequences and war sequences (by Greg Powell, Lee Whittaker and Ram-Laxman) are executed and shot meticulously and gives a great theatrical experience. Costume designing is very good. Though the entire film is grand, some of the forest episodes are not color-corrected well enough. Production values by Konidela Production Company are majestic and it is one of the best war films made in India.
Analysis: Movie starts off on a weak note with love story and characters establishment. 30 minutes into the film, you will start getting involved as the conflict with the British gets going. All the action sequences and war episodes are excellently done by mixing them with emotion and patriotism. The film is also shot in a rich scale and in a stylish way so that the millennials get connected to the core theme. SyeRaa Narasimha Reddy is like a Telugu version of Brave Heart. Producer Ram Charan should be commended for making this film on such a large scale. Surender Reddy proves himself as a successful big ticket director with this film. Chiranjeevi rekindles his passion and delivers one of his best performances. Chiranjeevi films are mostly associated dances, comedy and contemporary emotions. He steps out of his comfort zone and delivers exactly what the director has asked for. On a whole, SyeRaa Narasimha Reddy is a fictionalised version of freedom fighter Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy and is a must watch!