Cast: Sharwanand, Lavanya Tripathi, Ravi Kishan, Thanikella, Brahmjai, Shakalaka Shankar, Saptagiri and others.
Director: Chandra Mohan
Like Nani, actor Sharwanand has many hit-films to his credit and is a safe bet when selected for small films. His last film Sathamanam Bhavathi did well at the box office and also won a National Award.
The actor has been choosing different scripts in his last few films, so there is some anticipation surrounding his film Radha, which released today.
The director is debutant Chandra Mohan, and Lavanya Tripathi plays the female lead.
The story is about Radha Krishna (Sharwanand) who has worshipped Lord Krishna from his childhood and wants to become a police officer. When he grows up he helps police to nab some criminals and so was directly appointed sub inspector and sent to a village in Warangal district.
There is zero crime in the village. Radha falls in love with a girl also called Radha (Lavanya), an engineering student in Hyderabad. Radha, the policeman, is transferred to Hyderabad, and gets to meet his girlfriend. The political tract of the plot has the Chief Minister (Kota Srinivasa Rao) wanting to retire and announcing that Sujatha (Ravi Kishan) will be his successor. But the home minister (Ashish Vidyarthi) is also eying the post.
Everyone thought that Sujatha was a clean politician, but there is a wild side to him. He sets up a bomb blast in order to get sympathy, but it killed some policemen, colleagues of Radha Krishna. So Radha sets out to expose Sujatha and show the police in a good light.
First-time director Chandra Mohan chooses a safe, commercial entertainer as his launch pad. The subject has been successfully featured in films such as Pataas, Race Gurram, Babu Bangaram and Gabbar Singh.
There is nothing new in the story but it has an entertaining element with comedians such as Shakalaka Shankar and Saptagiri. There are no big action scenes either and the villains are given a softer treatment even though the point is that here is a young man who wants to get respect for the khakhi uniform.
Sharwanand is a sincere actor and gives his best whatever character he portrays. Though it's the first time he has acted the role of a cop, he does it perfectly.
Lavanya Tripathi has a limited role and does her bit adequately by looking beautiful. Ravi Kishan's role is a continuation of the one in his earlier film 'Race Gurram'.
Kota, Thanikella Bharani, Jayaprakash Reddy and Ashish Vidyarthi reprise the same roles they have done many times before.
Saptagiri and Shakalaka Shankar enthral in the comic scenes while Brahmaji gets another good role and carries it with grace. Aksha appears in a cameo. The 'Nannaku Prematho' used in many films earlier and once again it is used on Saptagiri in this film and it gives a few laughs. ??
The dialogues are entertaining and interesting, the music and songs are pleasant and the cinematography is average.
'Radha' has nothing new to offer but it is entertaining. Though the screenplay is bad and the story predictable, the director is aiming for a commercial success, and Sharwanand doesn't disappoint as he entertains you.
