The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : True family entertainer with tonnes of surprises in this period movie

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Saturday, Aug 04, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

True family entertainer with tonnes of surprises in this period movie

REGAL BEARING: Vadivelu as Pulakesi in the movie ‘Himsinche 23va Raju Pulakesi’

Film: Himsinche 23va Raju Pulakesi

Cast: Vadivelu, Nasser, Manorama

Directed by: Simbu Devan

This film is for all those who want a change and don’t know where to go. Despite being a dubbed film, ‘Himsinche 23va Raju Pulakesi’ directed by Simbu Devan starring Vadivelu, a comedian in dual role imparts many a lesson to our Telugu film makers – that you don’t need stunts, a bevy of beauties or scintillating music or gut wrenching emotion to make it reach the audience.

Period film

Pulakesi is a period film that blends fact and fiction with immense skill and sensitivity – looks as if it’s straight of a story book and the dexterity with which it has been treated which is sure to surprise every movie buff.

Storyline

A dim witted and a spineless king Pulakesi is on the verge of handing over his kingdom to the British.

He bites because he can’t use the sword, he feigns fever as he is scared of a battle and is oblivious to the plotting and scheming of his uncle who wants to usurp the riches.

On the other hand the king’s twin brother who’s been abandoned as an infant by the uncle is raised by a commoner and he grows up to be a fine man who is well versed in ‘warfare’.

He shocks the British when he speaks of “the rules of management: taxes and laws” and refuses to pay the tax.

How he saves his kingdom after coming to know his past, how he teaches Rajguru a lesson with the help of his commander-in-chief in the end forms the rest of the story.

Gags aplenty

There are plenty of running gags, and Vadivelu steals the show with his passionate performance as the crazy king and also the liberator.

This film displays the kind of heart that we can all relate to, the humour springs from the calamity and misfortune suffered by the tremendously played character and this humour is wisely used to convey the social conditions prevailing in the country during the British rule.

Costumes

The costumes, the settings, the palace et al gives you a period feel, the only minus point is the flowery language that children will fail to follow.

A heart warming and entertaining film for the entire family and of course a crash course for all those directors who have forgotten the ABC of film making.

Y. SUNITA CHOWDHARY

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