K. S. Ravindra’s Power (2014) Movie Review

Cast: Ravi Teja, Hansika Motwani, Regina Cassandra, Brahmanandam, Saptagiri, Posani Krishna Murali
Director: K. S. Ravindra
Music Director: Thaman S
Producer: Rockline Venkatesh
Censor Certificate: A
Runtime: 147 Minutes

Story-wise, a wafer would be thinner. The movie is about two Raviteja (s), one corrupted ACP (Baldev) and the other is an aspiring police officer (Tirupathi). Tirupathi works with his relative S.I Animuthyam (Brahmanandam) and provides necessary leads to the cases. In the meantime Nirupama (Hansika Motwani) enters his life and he instantly liking her. In the meantime, knowing his passionateness for being police officer, Nirupama starts caring about him. One day, Animuthyam clears the dust and illuminates Tirupathi about his standard. But Jagadeesh (Mukesh Rushi) comes and provides him an opportunity to work as ACP in Kalighat. On the other side “Medals kosam kadhhu currency bundles kosam panichese” strictly corrupted police officer Baldev. Who takes bribes from every one in the city. When Baldev gets to know about the Ex-ACP, he rebels against Gangu Bhai (Sampath). Then movie transform from a fake identity’s plot to a much serious and action oriented theme. I am not going to reveal the complete plot because I don’t want to kill the small thrill.

If we talk about performances, Mass Maharaj Raviteja does much better than he has recently. He nails both the characters but doesn’t quite deliver a knockout performance. Hansika Motwani has an inconsequential role; she is fiery, flaunts her earthy sex appeal & leaves a mark. Regina looks good in a song, but as a performer she lacks the support of a good script. Mukesh Rushi and Sampath are good in some parts and a pillager in other sequences. Brahmanandam, Sapthagiri and Posani Krishna Murali comedy sequences work in parts. Ajay and Subbaraju are just passable. Satyam Rajesh impressed with his cameo and Prakash Raj is fair as head of Investigating officer.

Power seems like a beautiful journey in the beginning, but no sooner you discover that the destination looks hazy, it disappoints you. The story loses its powerful punches and looks far from convincing. The wispy sequences and the poor characterizations of a few key-characters take away the excitement attached to the action-drama, traversing different states. If you overlook the storyline, the treatment is definitely similar to Operation Duryodhana, Lakshmi Narasimha, Balupu, Daruvu and Vikramarkudu. Second half action scenes, few comedy sequences and couple of songs act as a catalyst to a highly baffled storyline. Director K S Ravindra (Bobby) is patchy. There are parts of the film which are simply fine and parts which are terrible. The film tries too hard to mix a Balupu with a Vikramarkudu and fails on some level.

If only the director had worked on the script with little more interest and had done his homework properly, this commercial subject would have looked much better on the screen. Bobby should realize that the action and thrill elements would look credible only if screenplay is sound and story is logical. Director never really cares about clarifying about corruption money and what Baldev does with the wealth. Dialogues in the film are pretty routine, expect for few like “100 dial chesthe kadhu 100 kodithe vasthunnaru Police”, “Natho pettukunte burial ground ye”.. etc.

The songs by Thaman SS have two sure shot winners, Nottanki Nottaniki & Champesinde. Background score of the film is okay. Especially the background score to post interval fight is impressive. The harbor fight sequence is effective (reminds us of Vikramarkudu though), but the film drags and drags in the second half.

Cinematography is the main highlight of the movie. Cinematographers Arthur A. Wilson and Jayanan Vincent will take the audience to the unknown places of Calcutta and Hyderabad regions. The film isn’t too long but by the end of it, you feel it’s a lifetime. Editing of the film by Gautham Raju should have shorten the length by 20 odd minutes. The sudden transition between the scenes didn’t quite work in the film. The lavish production value gives the film an edge, but there are so many flaws that it mars the movie to a large extent.

What if a same food is served to you every day..? You might love it in the starting, like it for few more days, but you’ll finally get bored of it. Every alternate weekend Tollywood filmmakers are serving audience with the same humdrum no-brainer commercial films, and this week’s release Power is another fledgling to the list. It has the same action, romance, plot which you have seen hundred times before in other films. The film’s first half is tolerable, but the second half is sure to make you restless. The major attraction of the film is the couple of songs and the way they have been picturized. Hansika looks stunning in the song “Nottanki Nottanki”.

The biggest reason why Power is a big disappointment is that there is no surprise element in the film. One could easily predict the entire plot of the film. But director Bobby can’t be blamed for this let down. He worked for a similar kind of film with Raviteja (Balupu) and was successful. To look for mainstream plot, esthetics or treatment in Power is pointless. It is shamelessly commercial. On the whole, even if you are a big fan of no-brainer commercial entertainers, we would suggest you to watch Power on home edition.

Survi Review: 1.5/5

Theatrical Trailer: