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Stalin
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'Stalin' - Eminently Enjoyable

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

Charisma with a capital C. That has been the Unique Selling Point (USP) of Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi. His just-released flick, ‘Stalin’, shows why the living legend of Tollywood still strides the Telugu film scene like a Colossus.

The movie, directed by AR Murugadoss of Ghajini fame, is a judicious mix of all that creates a super-hit film. Punchy dialogues, awesome action scenes, melodious songs, delectable dance sequences, emotional intensity and class.

Full

credit to Murugadoss too for directing ‘Stalin’ with finesse and imagination. That the movie has struck an enthusiastic chord among the audience is clear from the fabulous opening it has had.

Stalin (Chiranjeevi) is a hero of the Kargil war who has taken voluntary retirement from the Army. The Major General is a do-gooder who believes in bringing sunshine in the lives of fellow beings. But he has one condition : those whom he helps should in turn do good to at least three others so that the human chain of happiness extends endlessly.

His own family consists of mother (Sarada) and sister Jhansi (Kushboo). The mother and daughter are at odds because the latter has married a man of her choice – a north Indian at that! But Stalin is on good terms with them.

The even tenor of Stalin’s life is disturbed first by Chitra (Trisha) who is Jhansi’s neighbour. Then comes a brush with a young woman who happens to be the daughter of the Home Minister (Prakash Raj). The fracas puts the hero in direct conflict with the powerful Minister as the aggrieved daughter vows vengeance on Stalin.

The Chief Minister who tries to play the mediator, finds his life at risk. But the human chain of help formed by Stalin comes to the CM’s rescue. Needless to say the baddies get their just deserts, too.

True, there is nothing novel about the story. But then, that is where an imaginative director can score. Murugadoss brings all his skill and experience to bear on the plot (his own screenplay is excellent) and infuses life into what would otherwise have petered out into a mediocre movie.

‘Stalin’ is a Chiranjeevi film all the way. His larger-than-life image dominates the movie vibrant with powerful frames and deft directorial touches. The intensity that Chiru infuses into his role is to be seen to be believed. The vagaries of age have left him unblemished. The megastar continues to flaunt amazing energy and enthusiasm – the dance sequences bear eloquent testimony to Chiru’s fitness and stamina – that should be the envy of actors much junior to him.

Heroine Trisha looks fetching in colourful costumes. She excels in the comedy act too. Prakash Raj lives the role of an 80-year-old wily politician. Sarada and Kushboo also compel attention and admiration with restrained performances.

Mani Sharma’s music and Chota Naidu’s camera work elevate the film.

Eminently enjoyable.

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