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Athadu
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'Athadu' Action Thriller

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

Even the most outrageous story can be made to look convincing if the director knows how to package it. That is what director Trivikram Srinivas proves in action thriller Athadu.

Srinivas must profusely thank his cameraman Guhan and music director Mani Sharma for making his task less taxing. As a result, Athadu, which could have collapsed like a house of cards in the hands of a less innovative director, manages to attract audience attention. Afterall, is not cinema the director's art?

No

less important has been selection of the cast. Both Mahesh Babu and topper Trisha have not belied the faith that the director reposes in them. Both have carried off their roles impressively.

Mahesh Babu, who looked convincing as a child man in Naani and as a vengeful brother in Arjun, looks like a killer (shades of Sylvester Stallone in the ‘Assassins’, especially the climax?) to the fingertips in Athadu. As for Trisha, the village girl is nothing new to her. She has done it before. And she essays it with aplomb in Athadu as well.

Srinivas has borrowed liberally from such films as Mohanlal’s Kanmadam (Malayalam) and Salman Khan’s Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge (Hindi) too.

Political leader Shiva Reddy (Sayaji Shinde) hits upon an imaginative idea to gain popular sympathy and votes: to fake his own killing! So, he requisitions the services of professional killer Nandu (Mahesh Babu). So far so good. But, as the saying goes, the best of intentions of both men and mice go awry! And they do in the case of Shiva Reddy, who gets killed in the bargain by a different hitman! (Sonu Sood).

In the melee of a mix-up, the policemen end up gunning down poor Parthu (Rajeev Kanakala), who incidentally, was on his way back to the village after a decade!

A distraught Nandu impersonates as Parthu and visits his family. In no time, he gains the confidence of the family. He even manages to solve a seemingly intractable problem plaguing Parthu's family for years. Parthu's grandfather (played Nassar) is highly impressed. Nandu's reward for all this labour comes in the fair form of Poori (Trisha).

But the lovers run into a host of hurdles. CBI officer (Prakash Raj), who is investigating the murder of Reddy, is determined to unearth the mystery behind the murder. Events build up to a rivetting climax.

Top marks for music director Mani Sharma. The background music in particular, manages to retain the suspense and tension of a taut crime thriller. Almost all the songs are melodious. But “Neeto Chappana”, picturised against the backdrop of Darjeeling tea estates, takes the cake.

Brahmanandam's comedy scenes, however, fail to tickle the funny bone and could have been avoided. But action scenes handled by Peter Haynes are efficiently handled.

The protagonists Mahesh Babu and Trisha do their roles with great panache. Mahesh is, as usual, at home in action scenes. Trisha looks lovely and inviting as a village girl who falls for the killer.

At the end of the day, you might find Athadu agreeable. But on one condition: suspend your critical faculties and curb your instinct to pick holes in the storyline. An added bonus is Mahesh Babu's action scenes.

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