Aa Naluguru

I am writing this review several years after the movie release. I would have watched this more than 50 times. In between I watched several good Telugu movies, still Aa Naluguru has best place in my heart. I can proudly say, It's one of the movies which made a big impact in my life. Go for it..

Aa Naluguru (2004) : Brief Review -

If Tamil Cinema has Anbe Sivam then Telugu Cinema has Aa Nalguru.. factually even better. One of the Greatest Life-lesson any Human Drama could ever teach you. Aa Naluguru has got nothing to do with Tamil Masterpiece Anbe Sivam but here i mentioned it because i feel that these two films have given the best life-lessons to mankind. Anbe Sivam taught us that, 'Love Is God' but that film had some factual issues with the context such as Love Story and Sacrifice attached to the screenplay. Don't get me wrong, i am not degrading it. I am just trying to explain how these two films are different while dealing the main course of the context. Anbe Sivam is long because it takes time to establish characters, their events and lives with some entertaining elements like romance, friendship, action etc. But Aa Naluguru strikes right on the point from the first scene. It's a story of a man who fights for his philosophy that spreading love and human relations are more important than money. This happens with that afterlife formula, the same what Hollywood invented in 40s decade but failed to give a life-long message and rather kept it limited upto watchable rom-com. Aa Naluguru is a film that teaches you the biggest lessons of life which can turn you into a real human or to some extent a God within a Human. This character Raghuram that Rajendra Prasad plays will remain in your memory forever as the best on screen TEACHER ever. How emotionally this films explores the life lessons is surely not a thing made for weak-hearted guys. If you have a heart at right place and if your brain is working perfectly then this film with melt your heart and educate your brain and these two big changes in you will happen at the same time. Just keep a box of tissues ready before watching this film. In one word, MASTERPIECE! That One Modern film which you MUST see and then force others to see it.

RATING - 9/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Really a must watch film....it should be everyone's watchlisr...Easily the greatest film of the modern era to watch. Bravo for Chandra Siddhartha's directing abilities. The portrayal of Rajendra Prasad in real life by actors Aamani, Kota, Chalapati Rao, and Raghu-son of seasoned actor Giribabu-is incredibly captivating. Plot writers should be commended for their creative and well-considered concepts, which are now as relevant in our everyday lives as they were in the days of classic dramas. With regards Tirupati Suri Dhanvantari...Movies like this is much required these days..must must watch..

Aa Naluguru is a variety film. Chandra Sidhartha directed this film with Rajendra Prasad, Amani, Raja, Kota Srinivasa Rao in the lead. The director tried to discuss on the priority of kindness and love to that of money in the life. Natakiriti Rajendra Prasad did an unbeatable performance. For those of Rajendra Prasad fans who missed the actor in him, this film will satisfy to the core.

Raghu Ramayya (Rajendra Prasad) is an editor. Raghu Ramayya is a kind- hearted person such as one explained in Chandamama stories. He goes to the extent of splitting his regular earnings into half. First part for his family and the second part for helping the needy. Raghu Ramayya is a very helpful person and helps one and all including his family in the same way. His wife Janaki (Amani), two sons Ping Pong and Raja and daughter Revathi are quite against this attitude. On the other hand Kotayya (Kota Srinivasa Rao) is a financier. He loans money on interest and is very strict with his business. For him nothing on earth could replace money. The family of Raghu Ramayya bring on severe pressure for money to pay donation to ping pang, donation of Raja's SI job and helping Revathi to go to US. Though Raghu Ramayya rejects the idea of providing money for wrong reasons, he finally budges in due to the pressure put up by the family. He gets the loan from Kotayya to pay for the needs of the family. In a way he accepts the defeat of his ideology that love should be more valued than money in life and commits suicide.

The film starts off with Raghu Ramayya narrating the story to the Yama Kinkaras. After his death, Raghu Ramayya's children take the money and hide in a hotel. They don't want to be bugged by the loaners. So, will the children come out to perform the final rituals to their father? Is money more valuable than love? Watch it on silver screen to find the answers.

The highlight of the film is the performances by Rajendra Prasad and Kota Srinivasa Rao. Rajendra Prasad yet again proved his versatility. With this film he conveys that it is the story and directors that would get the best out of him and he is always the same. This is another feather in the cap role for Rajendra Prasad and undoubtedly he excelled in the role. Competing th Rajendra Prasad in the performance is Kota. After a long time, Kota got such a role that got the actor out of him. The role of Kotayya could be done by no one else. Such is his performance. Amani did her role quite well as the wife and mother struggling between the attitude of her husband and children. Raja, Giridhar and others played their parts well.

This film brings back another actor, who is away from big screen for some time. Subhaleka Sudhakar. One wonders why he is not seen much on the screen any more. He is such a brilliant actor. This film gave him good scope to perform. Hope to see more of him in the future.

Coming to the film, the asset of the film are the performances, concept and photography. The narration is like a Teleplay. The flow is like that of a TV serial with snail paced narration. First half runs dragged. Add to the slow narration, there is much of lectures about the concepts of the life in the film. Music of the film is not impressive either. Background score is also so so. Dialogues were not clear in some dialogs. Also the get ups of Yamakinkaras are worse and very artificial.

Though the concept is etched out well, the pace-lacking narration kills it. Second half is a relief compared to first half. Emotional scenes carry the film to a better level. Surendra Reddy, who did cinematography for Bollywood films, did handle the camera for this film and did it fine.

Rajendra Prasad sir is simply outstanding in the film as the lead actor. Kota Srinivasa Rao sir is also superb in the film.

This film will surely make everyone cry.

Finally, An Outstanding film.