Rayudu Movie Review: Pastoral politics

Vishal is an actor who has had a high brand recall owing to his well-publicised films in Tamil and Telugu. The actor has had over a dozen releases in the last decade straddling across various genres – from the plain, action-oriented movies to those helmed by big names like Bala with a distinct rural setting. Like many of his peers, he too has had a mixed run at the BO with his films.

The latest release of his ‘Rayudu’ makes no pretensions about which kind of audience it aims to appeal to - with a rugged, knife-clenching hero clad in a lungi and vest. Recast for the Telugu audience in an Anantapur ambience, replete with rough-looking men and rougher attitudes, the film takes off with a violent undertone right from the start.

All the village-type characters are in place, including a doting grandma who will see no fault in our macho man, who is a loader by profession in the local bazaar. Circumstances pit him against the political aspirant, R K Suresh, the main antagonist, a new comer in southern cinema who makes a terrific impression in his villainous demeanour. But there is one catch as our neta-to-be is embroiled in a murder case, which puts the brakes on his soaring ambition.

In a simplistic, predictable storyline, by now, seasoned viewers would have guessed that the murder involves the heroine’s family and their fight for justice against the evil elements. Sri Divya, yet another rising star in Tamil plays the village belle well, awaiting the time to avenge the death of her mother who was murdered by Suresh.

The film moves on this premise - the tug-of-war between Vishal and the rest, his romantic dalliances, the melodramatic flourishes of his granny who is also a bit player in the entire game and how he triumphs at the climax, the inevitable conclusion to a commercial entertainer.

Director Muthiah, with two Tamil releases behind him in the same mould, dishes out the third, liberally spilling blood and crunching bodies at will. Vishal, of course carries the film on his shoulders pretty well while Sri Divya seems at ease in the rural environment, the body language adapting comfortably to the setting in which she is placed.

It is a different issue, altogether, whether the public at large would relish seeing a regular flick comprising action and emotion, with no new variations in place. Rayudu just about makes it as a one-time watch with its run time of 146 minutes.

Film Name : Rayudu
Cast : Vishal, Sri Divya and Radha Ravi
Direction : M Muthaiah
Genre : Action-Romance
Likes : Vishal and R K Suresh
Dislikes : Formulaistic treatment

By K Naresh Kumar