The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Of devils and magic

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 13, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Of devils and magic

CUSTOMARY ROLE: Srikant and Deepa in `Mayajalam.'

Mayajalam (Telugu)

Cast: Srikant, Deepa

Music, screenplay and direction: S.V. Krishna Reddy

Several socio-fantasy films like `Yamaleela, Ghatotkachudu' and `Mayalodu' directed by S.V. Krishna Reddy proved to be hits earlier.

After a long time, he returns with yet another of the genre. This time the subject revolves around devils. Though, it has some similarities to his earlier works, narration by S.V. Krishna Reddy makes it a bit interesting. Vamsi (Srikant) is a marriage broker. Pradeep (Pradeep Rawat) is an MP and has a son Chatrapati (Shafi). He wants his son to get married. Dr. Rajendra (Sayaji Shinde) has a daughter Swathi (Deepa) and he contacts Vamsi seeking an alliance for her. He wants to have an alliance with the MP's son and Vamsi brokers the alliance. However, due to a mix up Swathi happens to get Vamsi's photograph. Swathi falls in love with him and believing that Vamsi is the bridegroom, she accepts the alliance.

In fact Pradeep is a crooked politician who eliminates his rivals. Likewise, Dr. Rajendra also kills patients and sells off the body parts. Four persons (Brahmanandam, Krishna Bhagawan, Ali and Venumadhav) who die at the hands of Pradeep and Rajendra become devils. Now they seek revenge and the wedding comes in handy for them.

Will Chatrapati marry Swathi? Does she realise that Vamsi is not the bridegroom? How the devils take revenge? This forms the climax. Srikant is at his usual best, while debutant heroine Deepa doesn't have much scope to perform. Though slow in the first half, the film picks up momentum in the second half. It's a passable film if one keeps logic aside.

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