Movie: Akhanda
Genre: Action Drama
Cast: Balakrishna, Pragya Jaiswal, Srikanth, Jagapathi Babu, Shamna Kasim
Director: Boyapati Srinu
Produced By: Miryala Ravinder Reddy
Music: Thaman S
Cinematography: C Ram Prasad
Runtime: 167 Minutes (2hrs 47mins)
Story
Murali (Balakrishna) is a farmer in Anathapuram, well known for his good deeds. He is against faction and fights those who follow it. Saranya (Pragya Jaiswal) is appointed as the collector in that area. She comes across an illegal copper mining run by Varadharajulu (Srikanth) and orders Padmavathi (Shamna Kasim), her PA to give a detailed report on all the illegal activities. Meanwhile she falls in love with Murali and they both get married. As time passes, people who are working at mines are admitted in hospital with unknown reasons and start dying. Even just born babies get affected. Murali comes to know from Padmavathi's research that it's because of the uranium extraction and reverse dumping they are doing at the mines. Will Murali be able to Stop this? How Akhanda comes into the picture? Is there any Big head behind this Mining scam of Varadharajulu? Where will this lead? This forms rest of the story.
Artiste Performances
Balakrishna is amazing. As Murali he is great but as Akhanda he is at his best. Whether it be his aggression, intensity, dialogues delivery everything take the movie to next level. Especially fans will be awe struck seeing him.
Pragya jaiswal as collector does a neat job. She is beautiful and does justice to her role by giving good performance. Shamna Kasim is good in her role and leaves an impact.
Srikanth is wicked as Varadharajulu. His transformation adds up to his character and he too does a great work.
Jagapathi Babu Nithin Mehta make their mark. Rest of the cast have done their part.
Plus Points
Balakrishna as Aghora
Action episodes
Pre Interval to Interval Episode
Fan Moments in Second Half
Thaman's Tremendous Score
Cinematography
Production Values
Drawbacks (Which I Felt)
Loud at times
Pacing in first half
No proper emotional connect
Analysis
After two highly successful movies Simha and Legend, Boyapati and Balakrishna are back with Akhanda. Right from the day the project was announced, fans and movie lovers are eagerly waiting to experience magic these two are gonna recreate as their previous outings were not so impressive and Yes Boyapati and Balakrishna have recreated their magic again actually much bigger this time.
Movie starts off with introducing the main antagonist and sets the stage for the movie and proceedings. After establishing some key elements and characters its time for Balakrishna's introduction with an action episode. This is an out and out Boyapati mark action scene. It's feast to watch.
After the action episode, Movie's pace drops and moves in boyapati style of narration introducing Heroine as collector and another antagonist Varadharajulu.
There are two songs in first half one is Jai Balayya song that is shot beautifully and other is Adiga Adiga in which the director winds up the whole love track without wasting anytime. First half has pacing issues. It creates a roller coaster with its inconsistent pace which makes you feel that the first half long.
Pre Interval is the point where movies goes to next level with another Boyapati-Balakrishna mark action episode with their style of punchlines that are whistle worthy and enjoyable.
From here the movie's pace will be racing with amazing scenes coming one after another. One of the major highlights in the movie is the Interval episode.
Akhanda character is introduced with a Breath taking action sequence which is extraordinary to watch on screen. Boyapati style of action, Balakrishna's aggression and Thaman's haunting BGM have taken the scene and movie to the next level making it One of the best interval bangs in recent times.
Second half is completely taken over by Akhanda. There are scenes at police station, at Ashram and at Quarry that are mind blowing. Even the dialogues in the second half are strongly written that tell the importance of Temples and Sanatana Dharma.
Drawback of the movie is it's loudness and no strong emotional connect. The narration goes over the top at times throughout the movie and especially during action scenes which is usual in Boyapati and Balakrishna movies. If you ignore that or go with the combination's style of story telling then it doesn't bother you.
Climax is yet another extraordinary sequence after Interval that will please the fans and masses completely. After a prodigious fight movie comes to an end on an emotional note.
Editing is decent. Trimming a few minutes here and there in first half could have made things even more better. Visuals are top notch. Dialogues are Awesome. Production Values are Lavish.
Now coming to Thaman, he did a outstanding job with music. He gave his best to songs as always but its the Background score where he did an unbelievable piece of work that takes the movie to great heights and audience into a trance. He is an invisible hero to the movie.
(MY) Final Word
Akhanda more than a movie it's an experience. Boyapati and Balakrishna made a strong comeback and also made their Successful Blockbuster Hattrick after Simha and Legend. Adding to that Thaman makes sure to resound that with his incredible BGM. Leaving the loudness here and there this movie is engaging. On whole, Akhanda is a Out and Out Mass Entertainer which is a feast for Balayya's Fans and Enjoyable flick for General movie goers.
Bottomline: Akhanda - Boya, Balayya and Thaman Set the Screen on Fire!!
Note: This is my take on the movie. That is why I am not rating the movie. I respect each and every movie. Making people read my review and influencing them to form an impression on a movie before watching the movie is never my intention. I am a Movie lover too. This is just to express my view on the movie. 😊
Review by a Movie Lover