Race Gurram

Flying, rolling (in the air) automobiles? This has it spades, if that kind of thing is your ... thing. Loud, melodramatic leads? Yup, right up there... Songs when there is no need , feeding our common navel-gazing frenzy? Yup. Comedy that works ? Surprisingly, in spades too (and that's what kinda elevates this one over others of its ilk, of which there have been quite a few, and will be many more, judging by the way the audiences are lapping it up). Cases in point - the entire initial 'Inside' track and 'Kill Bill' Pandey.

A good Allu Arjun performance? Standard-order, since he seems to be quite sincere in almost everything that he does.

Also, for the first time, plastic-surgery seems to suit someone.

The bad? Time for the brickbats, since most audiences are too forgiving about everything bad in movies like this.

Let me get the typical ones out of the way. Loud acting, loud clothes, loud situations, loud sets, loud everything - check. An almost unimaginable level of suspension of disbelief - check. Situations and lines that want one to scream 'BS' every time - check. Comedy that's crass, and doesn't work for you, but has your immediate neighbor in splits - double check. Bad, extremely bad CGI, that's being passed off as great CGI since AP is the hub of all things software - triple check. Gory, violent, yet cartoony sequences that keep going on (and on, and on....and, you get my drift) even after you've yawned and yawned and yawned - quadruple check (that's actually true).

Moving on to an atypical grouse - Watching movies like 'Cuckoo' reinforces the perplexing nature of wrong lip-sync in most mainstream Indian movies, esp. those from AP and TN (admittedly, to a relatively lesser extent). All the main characters whose native language is not Telugu lip-sync their lines so badly (not their fault, they're doing it in another language), and I don't know how it is for the rest of us, but it never fails to take me out of the movie every-friggin-time. I want to buy-in to what's going on on screen, but fail whenever I see no lip-sync. Our mainstream audiences are really, really forgiving of their multi-crore offerings, and maybe, just maybe, that's not such a bad thing?

I'd advise you to watch it at the local big screen, but do these guys deserve your money? I'd say no, but you'll not bother. Maybe.

Race Gurram (Race Gurram) is an entertaining movie, if you enter the auditorium with a clear mindset that you are going to watch a comic film and not a movie which takes itself too seriously. The best part of the movie is it is the first time ever that a major telugu star has underplayed his role in the climax sequences and let comedian Brahamandam take center stage and letting character actor Rajeev Kanakala do something which is unthinkable in a telugu motion picture-nope no spoilers from me sorry.

Ram (Shaam) and Lakshman A.K.A Lucky (Allu Arjun) are brothers whose sibling rivalry is something which would put cain and abel to shame and give them a massive inferiority complex. Ram does everything better and is a successful police officer and Lucky does nothing worthwhile and lives off his brother and parents.

Lucky falls in love with Spandana (Sruthi Hassan-at her best) a girl with a terminator hangover and has a very good control on all emotions. Lucky changes her and makes her a lady version of himself and at this point Ram puts a spoke in their love wheel.

Lucky bays for revenge and does something which causes him to cross paths with Siva Reddy (Ravi Kissen) a rowdy sheeter turned politician. A showdown lands Siva Reddy in a hospital and he vows revenge on Lucky.

Apart from the sibling rivalry and Sruthi Hassan's characterization, the movie has nothing new to offer, but the way the screenplay works its way around the minor nitty gritties is what makes the movie interesting.

Allu Arjun plays the same tried and tested role to perfection and his "DEVUDA!" is good and is used in the right situations. He is excellent in the climax sequences and during the interval bang sequence.

Sruthi Hassan as Spandana is a treat to watch in the first half an hour of the movie-she is amazing in the bank robbery sequence and also gives us a glimpse of her tapori side in the "cinema choopistha mama" song. Shaam does the same boring act for the umpteenth time, sad to see such a good actor being typecast.

Saloni is cute with the telangana accent and gives out a good performance especially in the running sequence with Allu Arjun. Ravi Kissen does the same thing which all tollywood villains have been doing, yell and yell and then drop down dead.

It is Brahamanandam as Kill Bill Pandey who actually steals the show-his scene with Siva Reddy is the best in the mo vie-especially the dig at Prabhas.

Music by Thaman is strangely bad for an Allu Arjun movie, apart from the cinema choopistha song-none of the songs are good on the ears. Direction by Surender Reddy is good, but I wish the screenplay could make up its mind whether it wanted the movie to be an action thriller or a light action comedy.

Watch the movie for the laughs-----just don't take the movie too seriously-just walk in and expect Allu Arjun doing an Allari Naresh and you will love the movie

What should I say about this film? I am writing this review almost a decade after its original release. Yet, the film continues to work big time for me, just as it did at the time of its release. Everything about it works for me. Allu Arjun's solid performance, Vakkantham's engaging writing, Thaman's terrific BGM, songs, and re-recording, along with the master storyteller Surender Reddy's impeccable and impactful direction, all stand out.

I don't know who came up with the title, but it is such a befitting title for this adrenaline-rush-inducing movie. The direction, editing, performances, and music all complement each other brilliantly. The interval block is one of the best in TFI so far. This block is a testament to the caliber of Surender Reddy. He manages to achieve something extraordinary out of this block, which, in the hands of many others, would've fallen flat. Damn!!!

Once again, every element, including, Brahmi's block in the climax, Sruthi Haasan's track, Prakash Raj's track, and the terrific casting with Ravi Kishan, who killed his role, stands out. Every time I see him, he performs solidly, and his scenes are executed so well that they are blood pumping, Mukesh Rushi's dubbing, the terrific comedy, including Saloni's, MS Narayana's track, and Posani's track... It's impressive that they had so many elements in the movie, yet they all blended so seamlessly.

But it is also kind of sad that Surender Reddy hasn't directed or chosen an original project such as this or Kick since then. Looking at the projects that followed this movie, I presume he had to take some out of compulsion rather than his choice. Nonetheless, in Surender Reddy, I continue to believe. Thank you, sir, for giving us this gem of a movie.

Right from the word go, I was cursing myself for coming to watch this movie. The family sentiment seemed contrived, acting too loud, romance illogical, and the list goes on. But surprisingly, after almost 3 hours, I left the theater satisfied (how is that even possible?).

Scripted and directed by Surender Reddy, Race Gurram starts off just like any other commercial Telugu movie, with phony sequences and loud acting. While the first half seemed dull with mediocre screenplay, Surender manages to pull half the later half exceedingly well. The overall direction though could have been much better.

On acting front, it's more or less a cake walk for Arjun. His body language is superb, and he performs with ease. But what needs mention is one performance: Brahmi a.k.a Kill Bill Pandey, take a bow! He is absolutely entertaining.

Overall, the screenplay in the second half, Bunny's strong screen presence and Bramhi come to the rescue in this mediocre film, and you walk out of the theater satisfied. So just for that, you can give it a watch.

For a detailed review, please visit sasikanth.me :)

Time killing movie Amazing comedy with action &romance It's also best collection of Allu Arjun