The trailers of Badrinath clubbed with the star cast boasting of names such as Allu Arjun, Tamanna and Prakash Raj raises the expectations from the film sky-high. Unfortunately, the film fails to carry the expectations.
Badri (Allu Arjun) is trained by a warrior-saint Bhishma Narayan (Prakash Raj) to protect the temple Badrinath in Takshashila. All goes well till the charming young girl Alakananda (Tamanna) walks into the temple along with her grandfather. Her grandfather wants to save Alakananda from her Aunt (Aswini Kalsekar) who wants Alakananda to be married to her son. Alakananda had insulted her Aunt sometime for calling herself the wife of a Bellary-based factionist. Badri goes on to save Alakananda and at the same time Alakananda falls in love with Badri. Meanwhile, Bhishma Narayan wants Badri to succeed him but for that, he will have to remain a bachelor. Rest is how Badri and Alakananda unite.
The film stands on a weak story and adding further, the screenplay simply drags on and on. A few flaws to be noted in the screenplay, the way Alakananda falls in love with Badri is not at all convincing, the whole sequence of the fight with the naxalites was unnecessary, the end is too formulaic. First of all, what is this way of taking revenge? Marrying son to the person who insults her! It appears funny. Also, the songs pop-up without any situation favoring them. They try hard to remain on your lips on your way home but fail. The only fair composition are Nath Nath and Nacchavura. The dance by Allu Arjun is thoroughly enjoyable in the first-half but gets monotonous in the latter.
The production design is class. Cinematography is first-rate. The sets and locations are wonderful. Costumes are well designed. Choreography explores the dancing abilities of All Arjun to the fullest. Background score is superb. Sound design is top- notch. Also, the movie has a novel idea, obviously gone waste in an enterprise like this - a well composed English song (In the night) has been used in a Telugu film, probably the first film of its kind.
Coming to the performances. Allu Arjun holds a straight face throughout. Needs to improve. Fights are good and so is dancing but fails in acting. Tamanna has improved but still goes over the top at times. Prakash Raj gets limited scope but the make-up is good. Aswini Kalsekar is perfect. Post Johnny Gaddar, Phoonk, All the Best and Rakta Charitra, this is one film which will remain as a gem in her career. The actors who portray her husband and son are fair. The comedians are wasted, all of them. Only the one who accompanies Tamanna and her grandfather gets some scope. Rest are wasted. Grandfather is good.
On the whole, the film is likely to do good in the initial weeks, but business after that seems tough. Spend a few bucks for the wonderful cinematography, background music, locales and fights. Else, avoid it.
