It is Upendra all the way in Uppi Dada (M.B.B.S) which has been released after many months it got censored. The much hyped film was in the danger zone of becoming stale but somehow it has been released now.
The film is a remake of Sanjay Dutt-starrer Munnabhai M B B S which not only created waves in the box office but got prestigious awards. Kamal Haasan and Chiranjeevi did the title roles in the Tamil and Telugu remakes of the film which were also hits.
The Kannada film should have been released much earlier, but some how the problems were too many for its timely release. The film comes out as a better produce though it fails to generate the same as that of Munnabhai.
Uppi Dada certainly faces the problems of many remake versions made out of the highly successful originals. The fact that Munnabhai has been widely seen in many television channels and cable networks may also make things difficult for Uppi Dada.
Nevertheless, the film is well made with some good performances and scintillating music. The fans will be highly impressed with the title song and another song rendered by Upendra himself. For those who might not have seen the original, it comes as a likeable film.
There is no point in writing the story line for this film which is a remake of such a hugely discussed and massively popular film. But a couple of sequences need special mention. The climax sequence where the hospital staff and students protest against the expulsion of the Dada, the carrom board sequence and the death of cancer patient have been executed well and the characters have put in their best. The comedy sequences, however, fail to generate the same impact.
Upendra sets the course of the film from the first scene. He is a show stealer even when pitted against such a consummate artist like Anant Nag who plays the Dean's role in the film. Upendra's brilliant dialogue delivery and perfect body language are the highlights of the film.
Anant could have done better as he is capable of giving some new dimension to the role he portrays. Uma, with her girl-next-door looks, fits into the role well.
Naveen Mayur comes out with flying colours in his role as a cancer patient. Director D Rajendra Babu has been successful in taking full support from his technicians and extracting good performance from artists, though Guru Datt as Dada's assistant falls slightly below the level of Arshad Warsi.
Uppi Dada has been made with a good cost and no compromise has been made in the film's making. Still it is not as good as Munnabhai. Patnayak's background score is not as good as his music compositions. H M Ramachandra's pleasing visuals add value.
Uppi Dada is certainly a watchable and well-made film for the viewers who have not seen the original but it may disappoint those who liked Munnabhai M B B S immensely.
