It would not be an exaggeration to say that RRR is the mother of all India films. Be it the scale, director, star cast and release, everything is so huge with this film. After a wait of five long years since it was announced, the Rajamouli period drama starring NTR, Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgan and Ram Charan has finally hit the screens today. Let’s see whether it lived up to its mega hype or not.
Story :
The film is set in the 1920s when British rule was at its peak in India. A small girl from a tribal village in Telangana is taken away as a slave by the British officers. In comes the mighty Bheem(NTR) who belongs to the same tribe and takes on the responsibility of bringing the girl back. But he has to go through a mighty British cop Ram(Ram Charan) who is on his own goal against the British. What will Bheem do now? How will he face Ram? What is Ram’s personal goal? Will Bheem and Ram patch up for a common cause? To know the answers, you need to watch the film on the big screens.
Plus Points :
Rajamouli has made sure that RRR is bigger and grand in every aspect. One cannot stop but praise him for the way he has thought of something so different and executed it in a stunning manner. RRR is filled with so many goosebump filled moments that it is hard to put them all here.
The manner in which he introduces the key characters of the film is itself a spectacle. Be it the tiger chase sequence of NTR or the crowd bashing entry of Ram Charan, Rajamouli gives thigh slapping moments to all the fans. He builds up the characters in such a way that you get connected to their stories right away and get indulged into the story telling. After a while, it is only characters that talk.
It has been three and half years since we have seen NTR on screen. But the Nandamuri hero makes up for the lost time and is mind blowing as Bheem. The innocence, screen presence, and crazy action avatar in the film is showcased in the best way possible by the star hero. NTR will move you to tears with his emotional performance in all the patriotic and friendship based scenes. Probably, one can say that RRR is NTR’s best performance to date.
Ram Charan gets a very good role which has so many variations to showcase. If Rangasthalam showed what Ram Charan was capable of, RRR will showcase Charan’s magnanimity as an actor. The way he holds all the intense emotions and emotes with his eyes is spellbinding. The manner in which his character makes key transformations is brought out so well by Charan.
One of the biggest assets of the film is the comradary between Charan and NTR. So much was said about it in the promotions and it reaches all the expectations. The bromance between the two stars is so good to see on screen and will be loved by the audience. The interval bang where the two heroes go at each other is a sight that cannot be taken your eyes off. RRR banks heavily on their chemistry and is a treat to watch the stars in one frame.
Alia Bhatt makes a good Telugu debut and suits the role to perfection. Last but not the least, megastar Ajay Devgan is used as a special surprise in the film and the star hero does his best to create an impact. Shreya also gets a small but impactful role and she does well.
The factor that draws you in RRR is the unique storyline of how two heroes who play Alluri and Bheem meet at a point and how they revolt against the British. Even though Rajamouli has told that it is a fictional story, the manner in which he executes it looks so real. More than anything, the underlying emotions of every character and the impact they create on the audience is just on another level and is the driving force of RRR.
Minus Points :
Though it is not a drawback, the film’s main story takes off a bit late. As too much time is taken away for character introductions, the story gets sidelined and things start getting intense only before the pre-interval block.
The second half starts on a dull note and the pace slows down with the episode of Ajay Devgan which is strictly average. Things get back in the groove only during the last half an hour and make up an exciting finish. In a way, both Ajay Devgan and Alia Bhatt are only roped for the Hindi market and do not have much to do in the film.
Right from the beginning, the audience were told that RRR is the story of Alluri Seeta Rama Raju and Komaram Bheem. But that is not the case as the film does not dwell about those freedom fighters and only has their names as reference. So, all those who think Rajamouli will showcase their struggle against the British will be disappointed a bit.
Technical Aspects :
Production values by DVV Danayya are top notch and all the money spent is clearly visible in every scene which is quite grand. Music by Keeravani is very good but the BGM will surely evoke goosebumps in so many scenes. The camerawork by Senthil Kumar is top notch as the bygone era is showcased in a spectacular manner.
RRR mainly clicks because of the solid production design by Sabu Cyril. The British empire setup, props used and the sets laid will surely give a larger than life effect. Costumes done by Rama Rajamouli are authentic and especially those done for Alia Bhatt are amazing. Songs are choreographed in a solid manner and especially the Naatu Naatu song is composed so well without losing the emotion. Editing is top notch and three hours of runtime will not feel lengthy at all.
Coming to the director Rajamouli, he has made one of the most intense and emotional films in Telugu. Hats off to him for thinking something out of the box and placing it amidst two big stars and showcasing some never before star aura on screen. Rajamouli is known to elevate emotions and the way he does it with the characters of Bheem and Alluri is just superb.
What’s special in RRR is that every star and character has a proper storyline and is given equal importance in the narration. Rajamouli narrates the film in a way that there is no dull moment on screen whatsoever. With RRR, he has once again proved that he is a master of story telling and can showcase the emotions in the most grand way possible.
Also, the manner in which Rajamouli draws performances from Charan and NTR is solid. He gives so many high moments for the fans and general audience to cherish. Once again, he has made Telugu cinema proud. The icing on the cake is the patriotic storyline and amazing action blocks.
Verdict :
On the whole, RRR is an action packed period drama that has career best performances by Ram Charan and NTR. They will stun you with their screen presence and bromance which is the biggest highlight of the film. Adding to this, the patriotic drama that is showcased makes RRR quite intense. Rajamouli once again proves that he is a master at showcasing emotions. The way he designed, adapted, and executed the period drama is stunning. The box office numbers in Telugu will speak for itself and barring a slightly slow pace in the second half and dull episode of Ajay Devgan, RRR has everything to become a blockbuster at the box office and is a film that should be watched only on the big screen.
