The long-awaited Telugu film Viyyalavari Kayyalu has hit the screen and all the Uday Kiran fans can now heave a sigh of relief as the film is not that bad; rather, it is quite entertaining!
His two previous films that released after the upheaval he faced in his personal life, failed to impress the box office. So, all hopes were pinned on this film.
Though the film is all about love, director E Sattibabu does not dwell too much on the subject and instead tries to combine comedy with sentiment to ensure that the films appeals to all sections of the audience. So you have a handsome young pair in Uday Kiran and Neha Julka, a host of artistes and Srihari as the lovable brother of the heroine.
The film that has a foreword by superstar Krishna, has a message too for the youth -- be patient and get elders' consent for marriage, and not elope and humiliate parents. Hmmm-some coincidence!
There are sermons galore, not in love matters alone, but about politics, public life, police, judiciary, factionalism regionalism, assigned lands and many more.
An effort is made to erase the lover boy image of Uday Kiran by projecting him an action hero. He also has ample fight sequences with Rayalaseema.
Uday Kiran also has a total makeover. He turns macho, sports a new hair style and has a stubble. He does not have that chikna look! Acting wise too, he has matured a lot and Neha plays the perfect foil for him. Both make a good pair on screen.
Surprisingly the hero takes up an unconventional profession-that of a hair stylist and becomes the butt of ridicule in the village.
The film has strains of Nuvvuvosthanante Nenuoddantana, especially with Srihari portraying the doting brother of the heroine. Srihari has done more than half-a-dozen films in brother-sister scripts and he excelled in all these roles. He comes out as a winner this time too.
The film has several character artistes and comedians and everybody's character is well etched. Sayaji Shinde and Venu Madhav do their jobs perfectly.
The screenplay and dialogue are the plus points here, though the action sequences, particularly those involving Srihari, have to be taken with a pinch of salt.
Music by Ramana Gogula is good. On the whole, an entertaining film.
Rediff Rating: 
