Cast: Sunil, Nikki Galrani, Dimple Chopade, Mukesh Rishi, Ashutosh Rana and Posani
Director: Vasu Varma
After a gap of two years, Sunil is starring in Krishnashtami, directed by Vasu Varma. Before its release, the film had generated a lot of buzz because Sunil has been very choosy about his subjects since he turned lead actor from comedian. Also, producer Dil Raju, after taking over the project, had spoken very highly about the film in the pre-release promotions. Nikki Galrani makes her debut as female lead in Telugu in the film.
The story goes like this. Krishna Vara Prasad (Sunil) is a game designer in the USA who wants to come back and settle in India. He has been raised by his uncle (Mukesh Rishi) who loves him a lot.
When Krishna decides to come back to India, his uncle raises an objection saying that the days are not auspicious. At the same time he arranges an alliance for Krishna in the US and tells him that he does not need to return to India. Krishna, however, flies to India without informing his uncle. During his travels he meets Pallavi (Niki Galrani) and falls in love with her. He also meets one Ajay (Ajay) and his son.
In India, trouble starts as some goons attacks Ajay and he goes into a coma. Krishna decides to take Ajay’s son and hand him over to his in-laws. He faces more trouble here, and what happened next is the crux of the story. Director Vasu Varma’s debut film was Josh in 2009, which was also Naga Chaitanya’s debut film. That was a big dud and it seems that Krishnashtami will fare no better.
Vasu he hasn’t learnt a lesson in all these years as he has stuck to the same old formula of the hero landing in the villain’s house with some other identity. This is a really an old story and has been done to death in Tollywood. You will definitely feel that you have seen this earlier while watching it.
Sunil’s strength is comedy and after becoming lead actor he tasted success with two films because of the entertainment. But in this film Vasu Varma is in two minds, whether to show Sunil in a comic or in a serious manner. Thus he has completely spoiled the subject and the film is a dud. Though the production house has taken credit for the story, one can see shades of Kona Venkat as the second half is totally his style.
Meanwhile, Dil Raju, who is an old hand in the industry, has gone completely wrong in choosing the subject. He went overboard a couple of years earlier with Ramayya Vastavayya, and he has fallen for the same trap this time too. Most of the artistes in the film like Mukesh Rishi, Ashutosh Rana, Pavitra Lokesh, Tulasi and others have done similar roles in earlier films, so there is no point in discussing their performances.
Sunil has played his role perfectly according to the script. But this is not the Sunil audiences come to see. He waited nearly two years for this film and he has chosen a completely wrong subject. If he continues choosing wrong films, his career is definitely in trouble.
Nikki Galrani is just OK as the female lead and there is nothing great about her performance. Brahmanandam’s comedy is a bit irritating again, while Saptagiri and Posani Krishna Murali have gone overboard with their comic acts.
Chota K. Naidu’s cinematography is the only saving grace as he has captured some beautiful locales. The music is also just average though Sunil dances really well in a couple of songs. On the whole, Krishnashtami is a predictable, outdated film based on an old formula.
