Sharwanand is on the high after "Run Raja Run" and "Malli Malli Idhi Rani Roju". At the same time director Merlapaka Gandhi's debut film "Venkatadri Express" became a hit. This combination is now coming up with "Express Raja".

The CONTENT:

Raja (Sharwanand) is a jolly living jobless guy whose father (Nagineedu) is unhappy with his behaviour. After finding out that he is the most laziest in Vizag city, CI (Posani) sends him to Hyderabad for a job. Flattered for Amulya (Surabhi) on first encounter itself, Raja and his friend, Mama (Prabhas Seenu), makes all plans to woo her. On the day of proposal, accidentally Raja hand overs Ammu's dog to municipal dog catchers. As that has upset Raja, he finally finds bag dog but only to kick start a chain of reactions due to his actions. A goon (Supreet) gets upset with missing dog, a wannabe MLA Kesav Reddy (Harish Uttaman) and his mother (Urvasi) gets hurt, a dance troupe owner (Shakalaka Shankar) loses his vehicle and else. How all these incidents are interconnected and how they converge into the climax is the rest of story.

Analysis :

The EFFORT:

On-Screen:

Sharwanand is flawless, but his characterisation and dialogue delivery reminds us of Run Raja Run movie in every frame. He's good in action and romance too, while his comic timing improved very much.

Surabhi looks beautiful, but not much of an acting material if we have to go by this film. Saptagiri and Prabhas Seenu in the first half, while Shakala Shankar in second half acted as major pillars for comedy and they excelled. Urvashi is kick ass in the negative shaded role. Brahmaji, Posani, Supreet, Harish Uttamana and others have done their best.

Off-Screen:

Director Merlapaka Gandhi played a real safe game by choosing a safe script, a wild-goose-chase kind of drama with comedy laced all over. His dialogues clicked all the time, while comedy is another winner from them. Though there is some drag and over crowdedness, he played it well, as all of his cards are somehow attention pullers.

Praveen Lakkaraju's background score is not that intelligent, but couple of songs like Colorful Chilaka and Hulala are interesting. Their hook line is used as BGM intelligently. Other departments like art and stunts have done. With UV Productions at the helm, production values are once again stunning.

TeluguOne Perspective :

The PLUSES:

First Half comedy

Sharwanand

Songs

The MINUSES:

Dragged plot

Lengthy and silly climax

Overdose of Nellore-ism

BREAKDOWN:

It's always safe to make some road-side chase comedies, as there is scope to introduced as many characters as possible and create so much fun. Recently Bhale Manchi Roju scored a hit and Express Raja now treads in same pattern. Except for the fact that director has chosen "Vantage Point" based screenplay, where he narrates a known incident from different angles, rest of the 'remix' jig is a regular crime comedy kind only.

First half takes off interestingly with the kidnap of a dog. And then hero Sharwanand keeps us informing what has happened some days back. As he keeps narrating, various characters like Prabhas Seenu and Saptagiri joins us. Once his narrative gets over, then another story is added to this story like a sub-plot. In the first narrative, hero-heroine romance and Saptagiri's comedy stand highlight. They took graph to peaks. By the time interval arrives, we'll come to know there are couple of new stories to be added to the already finished movie.

The whole of second half shifts to Nellore, where villain Kesava Reddy and gang entertains us. While the plot gets thinner by now, director makes it little dramatic and interesting with the kind of logic less twists he applies. Shakalaka Shankar imitating Chiranjeevi rather RGV this time, has clicked so terrific. Sometimes interesting, sometimes high and sometimes lagging— second half progressed in this pattern. Finally what is the result? A lengthy climax, little unbearable at one point, with a major twist revealed in simple manner, ends the film.

Gandhi succeeded in giving a non-stop popcorn entertainment while the story just takes twists and turns, travelling from Vizag to Hyderabad to Nellore. It seems like director is from Nellore, so from using slang words of the region to showcasing locales around all the time, Nellore-ism dominated second half. At the end, if there is no other better film, then Express Raja is likely to end up as a terrific grosser. Comedy without boredom, always saves.

Final words: Have fun and masti Raja!!