Nagaraju (NTR) is a law student and the son of a bantroth (Raghuvaran) - the white dressed man who stands besides judge. Bantroth's ambition in life is to see his son Naaga as a truthful and noble lawyer serving the society. In that process, he spends lot of money on Naaga though he could not financially afford such a costly education.Chandra Sekhara Naidu (Nazar) is the CM of the state. The Home Minister (Rajan P Dev) is looking for an opportunity to destabilize CM. The HM has an illegitimate affair with a wonton woman under the guise of social worker called Mandaram (Shakeela). Mandaram has insatiable thirst for the power. She pressurizes HM to make her an MLA when an assembly position falls vacant. When CM refuses to give ticket to Mandaram, the HM join hands with an opposition leader Potti Kasaiah (Paruchuri Gopala Krishna) and launches Mandaram as an independent candidate. In one of such political rally campaigns, the goons happen to enter the house of Naaga due to some petty quarrel. In the process, they bruise Naaga's father and sister. In a fist of anger, Naaga beats those guys black and blue. Those guys file a case on Naaga for injuring them.Naaga impresses one and all in the court by saying how the political campaigns and street rallies are affecting the privacy and comfort of common citizens. He also suggests that the politicians should use electronic media for campaign instead of wasting money by trying to influence voters with unfair means. His argument becomes the talk of the town and the headlines in various newspapers. The CM also gets impressed with Naaga. All the students unions in AP join hands with Naaga to establish youth student organizations under one roof in the leadership of Naaga.Naaga campaigns for the ruling party candidate and contributes his part in the victory. An impressed CM appoints Naaga as the youth leader for his ruling party. The opposition party uses the current draught situation in the state as the weapon to destabilize government. As a reply to this, CM starts fast-unto-death for Central Government's intervention in this water issue. Due to some miscommunication, Naaga starts creating law and order problem to make sure that CM stops his fast-unto-death and rule the state again. Father of Naaga dies in the process.The rest of the story is all about how Naaga overcame all the hurdles and emerge unscathed as a winner.
Analysis :
This movie is made for NTR and hence all the frames and scenes in the film revolve around NTR. He did his best in dances and histrionics. His expressions in ferocious and pathos scenes are effortless. He is at home with his characterization and did full justice as an actor for his role. His dances are also pretty entertaining. However, the director created confusion in the characterization of NTR by infusing too much of aggression in seemingly an underplayed political film. Sada, who stole the hearts of youth with her village belle getup in Jayam, has disappointed the crowds with this film. Her role is very short and she did not suit the role well. Jennifer is just a prop in this film for a couple of songs and a couple of scenes. Her character is not at all useful for the story. Raghuvaran played the role of Bantroth and NTR's father. Raghuvaran, who is seen as a rich father or sophisticated villain so far has done a character of a middleclass, honest and poor father. His sophistication and body language does not suit for such humble middle class characters though he gave his best shot.Paruchuri Gopala Krishna character of Potti Kasaiah is a natural extension of his double-statement character in 'Prathidhvani'. He entertained crowds through his political satires. Nazar did a role of honest Chief Minister who encourages genuine talents and earnestly work for the people.The characterization of Rajan P Dev is a big let down. Rajan, who donned powerful roles of ruthless villain in Kushi and Aadi did a sober kind of underplayed political leader. Hence there is no kick in his role. Shekeela is given an apt role in this film. She did justice to the role of a greedy woman with comical outlook. Sudha got a role where she can emote well. Sunil did the role of Naaga buddy and provided some entertainment in first half.
TeluguOne Perspective :
AM Ratnam, who always preferred hero to be the part of the story has taken U turn and made this film by making the story a part of the hero. In an attempt to create a subject that caters to the masses, he gave too much preference to the unwanted violence and excessive stunts. There by he had nothing offer to the female audiences except for few sentimental scenes that have the scent of Tamil. A hero can only be as powerful as villain. If the hero is a mass hero, the director needs to create an equally powerful and dreadsome villain. If the hero is a strategic hero, the director needs to create such scenes where the tacit tactics of hero gets elevated (like those in Shankar films like Gentleman, Bharateeyudu and Oke Okkadu). By having a villain who looks absolutely weak and projecting a hero who is unbelievably heroic, the director could not balance the good and evil equation in the film. The first half of this film is decent and sensible to certain extent. But the story in second half meanders aimlessly and bores you to certain extent. The main asset of the film is NTR and one may watch this film once for NTR.