Top 10 Telugu Movies in 2011!!

Here are my facebook two line reviews of the Top 10 among the telugu movies I have seen in 2011. (i.e. most of the big ones)

10. Pilla Jamindar: Another promising movie from Nani. Decent film with a fresh backdrop and refreshingly good casting.

9. 100% Love: Good Music. Fun concept. Easy on eyes and ears. Bonus marks for visualization of the first song. Too much drama towards the end prevents it from ranking further up.

8. Gaganam: Well made concept movie. But shot like a drama with minimal budget. Could have been more effective thriller with fast cutting and grander visuals.

7. Panjaa: Refreshing change from the recent big star movies where the hero is hyped up with stupid dialogue and ridiculous 'thread supported' fights. Liked it for the most part.. Good performance by Sesh Guy and loved the ramp up to the interval.. decent second part effected by very long action sequence at the end.

6. Golkonda High School: Regular underdog sports format movie seen many times over in Hollywood and in the famous Lagaan. But still a good effort worth commending.

5. LBW: New age Telugu movie... All New cast. Well made. Recommended!!

4. Ala Modalaindi: Good romantic comedy with good music. Regular story packaged in a new way. 

3. Seema Tapakay: Deceptively looks and sounds like any regular Allari Naresh fare. But a much better and funnier film. Songs were richly picturised enhanced by heroine's dancing skills. 

2. Rangam: How many times do you get to watch a decent political thriller in Telugu? Must watch!!! Awesome locales in the songs though.

1. Dookudu: Blockbuster. Never a dull moment. This is the 'Full Meals' every director promises while making a movie with the super stars. Delivered exactly to the needs of the masses. 

Special marks for efforts: 

7th Sense: 'A' for intention and effort, 'B' for execution. Worth Watch!! Shockingly, Legend of a South Indian monk being the patron saint of Shaolin seems to be true... got to read more abt it!!

Ananganga Oka Dheerudu: New Age Vitalacharya Movie with good special effects. Could've been a more racy adventure for its short duration (2 Hrs Only)!!

Music and Emotions - My Take

RGV in his recent post he wrote about the effect of background scores in the movies and his experiences with music in movies. 

http://rgvzoomin.com/2009/07/25/the-psychological-aspect-of-background-music/

This takes me back to a discussion I had  with one of my roommates  (non Desi) back in Oakland about what makes music effect our emotions. Is it something that is hard wired in our genes or is it some thing that is learned and our brain is trained over the years. 

I think it is a learned emotion. Whenever I hear 'Sare Jaha Se Achcha', 'Vandemataram' and 'Jana gana mana', some kind of patriotic fervor captures me. Whenever I hear 'Suprabhatam' or 'Jai Jagadeesh Hare', I will be a peace. The popular telugu movie dance numbers like 'Bangaru Kodi Petta' or 'Chikubuku Raile' makes me tap my feet. I wouldn't think some one from an alien culture would feel the same emotions. It's not the specific numbers, but the emotions become associated with the instruments, the ragas, the vocals associated with the numbers that had impacted our emotions. 

This was evident when I was listening to some of the melodies by Indian female singers like Lata, Asha, Chitra and the likes whom we consider to have very soothing and melodious voices, my non desi roommate found them to be shrill and harsh. May because our emotions are shaped by some of their older songs which might have become memorable for a number of reasons including the instrumentation, the lyrics, the movies they were part or any other reason. 

It works the other way to, I for once can not appreciate the hard rock and find it cacophonous and disturbing, while an old colleague of mine listens to the music while at work and claims it makes him productive.

To be sure, there is some music that encompasses cultures, but I think it might be because of the sharing and borrowing of these elements across the cultures. I am now a big fan of Eminem's rap music, but would it have happened with out Baba Sehgal or Rahman's 'Peta Rap'? Or would I have liked Lionel Richie (I know :) ) without the listening to his tunes in the memorable 'Maine Pyar Kiya' ? 

Would a piece of music bring in the same emotions to people who are brought up in different countries and cultures if they are listening to a new kind of music alien to all of them?

Vanaja, a Telugu Film

I haven't seen the film yet.. But its great to see a Telugu film to get such a raving review from my favorite movie critic and possibly one of the greatest critics for the english movies, Roger Ebert, a 4 out of 4 stars.

More so because its not a cross over film but a true stick to roots rustic and rural telugu drama with an Andhra Village as the backdrop.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070913/REVIEWS/709130308

This will probably give a big boost to the film in festival circuit and in having a limited release in America to make more than enough money to cover its costs. And this probably gives some boost to some of the movie crazy telugu engineer to venture into the movies.

Congratulations to Rajnesh Domalapalli.

Stalin, Rakhi - Movies that failed to deliver

It's been quite a while since a Good telugu film hit the screens. Godavari and Bommarillu are the last really good movies and then there was Pellaina Kothalo, which has the potential but has fallen flat in the second half. Amma cheppindi barring some acceptable cliches would have made a great film for television, but doesn't have the grandeur for a movie to be watched on the big screen.
I don't have problems with typical masala fare and I am happy with the recent movies like Annavaram and Desamuduru, you know what to expect and you get that. But it pains me to see the movies with great potential messed up, not because of the lack of skill or talent, but because of the trivial self indulgences and wrong notions of 'commercial' aspects of a film.

Rakhi and Stalin, great concepts on paper, very skillful and talented directors, all the star power needed to carry a movie entirely on their shoulders. Pity it is wasted to satisfy non existing image in one case and a complete disrespect to the tastes of audience in the other.

Rakhi about injustice against women came at the right time and is very much a need of the hour. Given the treatment of women as second class citizens by the most of the nation. It doesn't need to be laid out in words or deeds, but it is obvious that even the most progressive sections of India still has a lesser regard for women. There might be hundred reasons for this inequality. It might not be intentional oppression by the male kind and I guess many of the women think they are inferior or less capable than men. This has been changing from the past few years with the affirmative actions toward women empowerment with reservations in higher education and in political systems. And with the rise of IT, time is ripe for women to grab the opportunities that doesn't require the physical and stressful work and are positioned equal (probably better) to men.
I was hoping that Rakhi would highlight the small injustices and invisible sexist attitudes in addition to the more serious and blatant crimes and educate the masses. But the movie failed big time in succeeding at any level not artistic, not social and not even commercial. With scantily clad women to attract men to the theaters, needless and pointless romantic songs with not one but two women in the regular telugu movie format defeats the purpose. And showing only the extreme cases like burning women live for dowry which are shunned by the society from long time which are done by the criminal minds. They are done by criminals and is not at the root of the problems. The injustice is because completely normal and intelligent people (both men and women) are still under the notion that women are inferior. This should have been addressed. But my complaint is not because they lost the opportunity, but for the way they ruined it with improbable solutions that are included to cater to the egos of the stars and the same ignorant masses worshipping their screen idols who likely are the most discriminating people and all this seems to be for quick money. And I resent that.

Coming to Stalin, lets start with the name. It is evident from the interviews, that the producer himself knows the History of Stalin and the grave injustices he committed. But retained it because it sounds powerful to elevate the hero character as strong. I had no problem with the the an earlier film titled 'Hitler' as the character is ruthless and the usage of the name 'Hitler' to refer to strict and ruthless people justifies it. But in this case there is no relation between the 'Stalin' and the character of the protagonist. He is a generous and helpful person with a great positive attitude, who can do any kind of sacrifices to help the handicapped and needy.
And about the movie, the first half promised a great movie with heart touching scenes and sensible and feasible solutions. It was a great story with a number of relevant and well etched characters. I've gone into the interval hoping for a great movie that would be remembered for a long time. But that wasn't meant to be.
The second half is turned into a 'hero-villain' confrontations and one-upmanships that we have seen in every second movie in the last 2-3 decades with ill placed powerful dialogues and sequences that not even remotely help the theme of the movie. All because the makers think that is what the audience 'want to see'. Some of the shankar's movies have powerful characters with good social themes, and he didn't need to make the heroes larger than life to make them commercial success? even 'Tagore' doesn't cross the limits and always stayed with in the scope of the theme. But this movie took the concept of 'being helpful' to the society and buried it under the 'commercial elements' and hero worships.

Why?

Ram Gopal Varma

I would say Ram Gopal Varma is the catalyst for changing the face of Bollywood. Not just in the creative aspects, but also in the business sense. Before Ramu, there were many acclaimed directors, many acclaimed producers, many acclaimed writers. But story telling was not what used to drive the industry. It was all what the industry calls as 'proposal making'. The producer will go around to find who is the IN hero, IN director, IN music director etc... and it's about stars and making money. Then ascended Ramu for the south. Successful or unsuccessful, his movies are about telling a story than about star value or music or gloss. And that set the wheel in motion with other willing to do movies that are not bound by commercial constraints. The came the big push, that put the industry on a race car. Ramu, the producer. Probably the first time in India, movies are being produced by a 'Creative' person who understands cinema and not by deal makers. He started giving directing opportunities to his assistants who are also driven by story telling. Though he is not highly successful overall, that opened the gates. Yash Chopra's yashraj, Yash Johar's Dharma productions, Ghai's Mukta, Bhatt's Visesh films, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Shankar and Maniratnam (wow, that was a list) also got into production. They are the best and they are the most successful directors. They know the talent of their assistants, they drive the projects and the change in the quality of cinema is for all to see. Indian Cinema has made a big leap.
I think with out the fearless Ramu, taking the big stride to become a producer, Indian Cinema would not have come this far.

Two telugu personalities

I was checking the blog of Janus Friis (creator of Kazaa and skype) and came across this term 'disruptive technology', technolgy that is responsible for a paradigm shift making the existing technology obselete. Good.

May not be totally related, but that reminded me of two telugu personalities who brought change that was 'disruptive' in India.
Ram Gopal Varma and Chandrababu Naidu.

I'd follow up on why I think they are important.

Top 10 Telugu Music CDs to own - 2005

Telugu Music seems to be faring much better when compared to the movies. There are atleast 10 more movies which have good songs like Jai Chiranjeeva, Bhadra, Bhageeratha, Athanokkade, Subash Chandra bose, bunny, allari pidugu, chakram, relax, radha gopalam, Andarivadu.

10 Manasu Mata Vinadu (Kalyani Malik)
Kalyani Malik is yet to make his mark. He definetely would. His music is also in the lines of RP. No nonsense. Tunes go with the mood of the lyrics.
Picks: Nuvvu Nijam, Nuvvu Maro Sari Anu

9 Good Boy (Vandemataram Sreenivas)
You got what you asked for. Any one who likes the songs of 6teens and Girlfriend would instantly love this youthful album. Dappu music at its best. Album is funny and silly. And draw smiles when you listen to some of the lines.
Picks: Yellow Maruthi, Namo Namo

8 Naa Alludu (Devi Sri Prasad)
Mass Mass Mass. These songs are what we can call Mass songs. Definetely would have become a rage with the masses had this movie hit the bulls eye. Kandi Chenu Kaada, Pattuko Pattuko Nannu Pattuko are what you need to give NTR to show off his dancing skills. All the songs are catchy. If not for the choice of the subject which makes you feel awkward you'll sure want to have this album.
Picks: Kandi Chenu Kada

7 Sada Mee Sevalo (Vandemataram Sreenivas)
When you think Vandemataram is gone and out, he shows he still has something left in him. May be it's the director's responsibility to get some good tunes out of him. Neelakanta does exactly that. And we got some hummbale songs. Who wouldn't want to say hello hello or sing Em navvulivile to stunningly beautiful Shreya in those sexy sarees.
Picks: Hello Hello, Lub Dub, Em Navvulivile

6 Athadu (Mani Sharma)
How come Mani gives best of the introductory songs to Mahesh. After Takkari Donga, this one is a great introduction song for Mahesh. The song sounds fresh and elevates the hero's character to new hights. Though "fighter" bit is a ripoff and makes you curse for marking the great song with a black spot.
Picks: Pilichina Ranantava, Adharaku

5 Balu (Mani Sharma)
Is it Mani or is it Pawan. How come all the movies of Pawan have absolutely fantastic music. And he definetely has a gift of choosing the right tune and lyrics. If the song is supposed to romantic it would be romantic. Neelo Jarige tantu ne choostune vunna - how romantic is that!! Hut Hut Ja - definetely make you wanna sing it aloud with some kind of aggression.
Picks: Hut Hut Ja, Neelo Jarige Tanthu.

4 Anukokunda Oka Roju (MM Keeravani)
How many kinds of music can Keeravani create. If sounds in one way in the Raghavendra Rao's movies. His music in movies like Okariki Okaru and Anukokunda Oka Roju sounds in a totally different way. Are MM Kreem and Keeravani one and the same. They definetely do not sound same. Without a doubt, he is a Master.
Pick: Needalle Tarumutu Vundi

3 Super (Sandeep Chouta)
Hip and trendy. Sandeep is a gifted music director. I am not sure why he is not being given many chances in the Bollywood. But for telugu he has given some great songs. Who can forget Ninne Pelladatha and Prema Katha. Mudduletti with techno punjabi beat is definetely fresh for telugu music lovers. All songs in the movie are good.
Picks: All songs, Mudduletti in specific.

2 Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana (Devi Sri Prasad)
A flaw less album from Devi. Sirivennela give some extremely beautiful lyrics. How can he write such romantic lyrics at his age?? He is definitely a gift to the telugu films. I am yet to find a song written by him that has bad lyrics. Get me one if you can. Niluvaddamu ninu epudaina, nuvvu evvaru ani adigenaa?? Or Chandrullo vunde kundelu kindikochinda?? Or even Something Something.
Picks: Niluvaddamu, Something

1 Avunanna Kadanna (RP Patnaik)
R. P. Patnaik - Telugu industry misses you. RP is not a path breaking music director. He is not very innovative either. Nor does he brings new sounds to the board. But his Music has soul. You can feel the music. You can sing along. You can play them in your car and you can listen to them while you are busy doing something else with out getting disturbed. I keep going back to his old hits like Nee Sneham once in a while when I am in a romantic mood ;). Avunanna Kadanna falls into the same category. You never geet bored of the music.
Picks: Each and Every Song. Play it again and again.

Top 10 Telugu Movies 2005

I started of with the idea of compiling a the top 10 movies that his the silver screens for the year 2005. There are defintely more than 10 movies that have made good money at the Box Office. But qualitatively the list is much smaller. And I have not seen many of the movies people like to be innovative or good. So here we go...

I have not seen these movies which I rank in the top 10 based on what I heard. 10. Chakram for its intent, 9. A film by Aravind by going off the beaten path and 8. Premisthe for its emotional content. Also special appreciation for Mogudu Pellam of Dongodu, Sada mee Sevalo, Naa Oopiri and Danger. I wish they were released in Tamil first and dubbed into Telugu later on. I'm sure people would have liked those movies. ;)

7. Aparichitudu
Shankar's movie. All the hype about Vikram's action. There is nothing great about the acting. All three roles are overplayed. I do not find him convincing at all in any of the roles. Rules Ramanujam and the overblown brahmin backdrop gets on to your nerves. But it is still a Shankar's movie. The concept is excellent and the way the scenes are picturised is good. But this movie stumbles because of some unnecessary sequences.

6. Jai Chiranjeeva!!
Being at the TOP definetely has its price. People do not accept anything less than a flaw less non stop entertainment from Chiru. Jai Chiranjeeva falls short of that. Forget about the negative reviews or expectations. This one is pure entertainment, with good music, nice songs with trendy picturisation and great comic punches from the entire cast. But trying to cook a spicy biryani, the director has put one too many so called "commercial" elements. Also missing is a defined characterization for Chiru which is typical of Vijay Bhaskar's movies. The intent of showing an innocent villager who knew nothing about how the world works going across the world to take his revenge is not translated onto the screen. If you are not too critical about the missing things, this one is sure to entertain you for 3 Hrs. But it is time for Chiru to move on and stop doing movies with younger heroines. Chiru should pass on the responsibility to give mass masala movies to the younger lot and experiment with new characters.

5. Athanokkade!!
This movie once again proves, all you need to make a good movie is a passion for the craft. Combinations and Formulas are not the way to go. May be trailers revealed much of it. But for me who went into the movie with nothing to expect. This one is refreshing. Right from the peaceful dream like opening to the scene where the hero's mission is revealed. This one has freshness all over. The music is good. Kalyan Ram has to improve but looks like he has his head on his shoulders and has a passion to prove himself. This one too is not spared of some unnecessary scenes to elevate heroism.

4. Nuvvostanante Nenoddantaana??
Siddarth is the guy to watch out for!! He gives his all to bring the character to life. His energy made this movie a good one. Trisha is more hype than substance. Her exoressions are repetitve and she is only cute for a while. Music - is the movies best asset. Devi Sri is the guy with some talent. The best thing about his music, inspite of being high on beat and rich in orchestra, his songs always flow with the lyrics. That makes his music hummable and at the same time shake your leg. PrabhuDeva's direction and Venu's photography are poetic. Prabhu is the most modest film personality I have seen. He is sure going to go places. I have one complaint though. THis movie is a rip off, first half is Hum Dil Dechuke Sanam with the interval twist from Maine Pyar Kiya and the second half is Pyar kiya to darna kya.

3. Athadu
Mahesh's action, Trivikram's craft and Mani's background make the first half of the movie a dream. Mahesh has the charm and talent to portray this larger than life character. The way trivikram chose the dusty tinge for the action part of the movie is absolutely beautiful. Mani is brilliant with the back ground score. Especially when he walks toward Tanikella Bharani's men in the farm. Sure to pump up ur adrenaline. The other half of the movie with the family has nothing new and the romance is also not upto the mark. But the movie is good overall.

2. Ghajini
Full marks to the director to the director for succeeding in bringing the Memento to indian screens completely commercialized to get it work with our sensibilities. Surya is magnificient and teaches the rest of the younger lot a thing or two. Asin is fabulous. The movie has a very cute love story brought to life by the lead characters with charm. Asin's naughty attitude and surya's simple smile are enough to watch this movie. Music is great, picturisation of songs is great. The concept of short term memory loss is not utilized well and the climax is stale. With a little more care, this movie could have been a master piece.

1. Anukokunda Oka Roju
The news that this movie is not commercially successful even in the Urban areas tells one thing. This movie is ahead of times for telugu audience. This is a very very rare movie to hit telugu screens that really requires the audiences to use their brains. I was told that the audiences felt cheated with the way the movie ended. But they should have felt elated by the way the director has taken them for a ride. The director has intelligently incorporated the hints in the early part of the movie. The action part is also very well picturised in the busy streets. The movie has a ver natural look and doesn't give into any commercial constraints. Yeleti is the next Varma for telugu industry. Charmme is absolutely stunning and stole the limelight, but I thing Jagapati Babu is the USP of the film. After Anthapuram, this is one movie he would treasure. Oops!! I'm a sinner. This movies has so many good things, that I nearly forgot one important part. Music, Salutes to Keeravani.