After the lukewarm Venky Mama, Bobby’s Waltair Veerayya, starring Chiranjeevi, Shruti Haasan, Ravi Teja, Catherine Tresa, Bobby Simha and Prakash Raj felt like a better outing from the get-go. While the film is a mixed bag, it does manage to keep you engaged for the most part. Veerayya (Chiranjeevi) is a luxury goods and liquor smuggler cum fisherman from Jalarpet, Vizag. Despite having a criminal record, he’s respected enough that even the coast guard calls upon him when in dire need. He’s called ‘samundar ka sarkaar’ in a scene. A police officer (Rajendra Prasad) has witnessed something so brutal in Maredumalli that he can’t get over it. He approaches Veerayya in hope that he can get something done that even the law can’t. Seemingly in need of money, he agrees. While the target is Solomon Caesar (Bobby Simha), brother of feared drug lord Michael (Prakash Raj), is there more to why Veerayya agreed to this? Waltair Veerayya doesn’t take itself too seriously, nor do we. The film is filled with characters who don’t seem anything like they are on the surface. As the film progresses with the masala formula of a dialogue, fight, song, et al, Bobby slowly peels back the layers to the secrets these characters keep hidden. None of them are who they seem on the surface. The first half of the film is mostly fun and frivolous. Even as Veerayya and gang head to Malaysia on their mission, no one seems to be able to focus enough. The stakes do get high, but they never get high enough. But things change right before the interval. While there are jokes and some laughter in the latter half of the film too, there’s a shift in the tone. ACP Vikram Sagar (Ravi Teja) is introduced, and things get a little more serious as the film progresses. The issue with the film lies precisely here. While it’s important for the film to get serious in some parts, it doesn’t gel well with the light-hearted portions. And yet, the film wavers between both till a silly, over-the-top climax brings it to a close. It also doesn’t help that scenes are interrupted or randomly cut to unnecessary duets with Atidhi (Shruti Haasan), who seems to serve a purpose in the story till she’s side-lined. The film has enough high moments to get you through, but the story has nothing novel. Chiranjeevi seems to have fun as Veerayya. His coastal accent might border on caricature more than authentic but his comedic timing (especially when he references Jaru Mitaya) and body language suit the role well. He also seems to have a ball while shaking a leg to Boss Party and Poonakalu Loading, so do we. Ravi Teja gets a meaty role, and he breezes through it with ease. He fits right into the masala narrative with absolutely no hitch. Rest of the cast, including Shruti, Catherine, Prakash Raj and Bobby do their best with what they’re offered. DSP’s background score and Arthur A Wilson’s camera work add well to Bobby’s direction. Waltair Veerayya might not leave you feeling poonakalu as promised, but it’s decent enough, especially if you’re a Chiranjeevi fan or Ravi Teja’s for that matter. Just don't expect something out-of-the-box.Read more

Sankranti 2023 is set to be a box office battle in Telugu cinema between Balakrishna’s Veera Simha Reddy and Chiranjeevi’s Waltair Veerayya. Director K S Ravindra aka Bobby Kolli’s Waltair Veerayya starring Megastar Chiranjeevi sees him bring Chiru back to form in a mass entertainer. Waltair Veerayya begins with the introduction of notorious international drug peddler Solomon Caesar (Bobby Simha) breaking out of the custody of RAW agents in a village in Andhra Pradesh. He and his men massacre RAW agents and policemen and plan a speedy escape to Malaysia. An honest police inspector (Rajendra Prasad) decides to nab Solomon and bring him back to India and make him pay for his crimes. He turns to Waltair Veerayya (Chiranjeevi), a notorious fisherman who’s into smuggling, to help him achieve this humongous task, and they head to Malaysia. And in Malaysia, he not only meets his love interest, Adithi (Shruti Haasan), but the story starts to unfold when Veerayya becomes friends with Solomon. There is a major twist in the plot and this is unveiled in the second half of the film. Bobby Kolli tries to make the two halves of the film as distinct as possible to ensure that Megastar Chiranjeevi fans are satisfied with the film. In the first half, we find the mass Boss Party song, plenty of comedy and light-hearted moments. The director sets up an exciting interval block post where we find plenty of action and the entrance of Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja. Low angle and slo-mo shots are used extensively in the action sequences to showcase both Chiranjeevi and Ravi Teja’s star stature and give them that larger-than-life feel. The story of the film is nothing new, but Bobby Kolli could have gone easy on the action scenes, especially in the second half, which is stretched. Technically, the movie is well-made and Devi Sri Prasad’s songs have been rocking the charts. Chiranjeevi seems to be back in form with this film and the role of Waltair Veerayya. He looks fresh, and his swag, style and comic timing are superb. Devi Sri Prasad’s songs have given Chiranjeevi ample scope to show off his dancing skills and the Megastar even does a quick ode to Michael Jackson. With romance and plenty of action thrown in, Chiranjeevi has ticked all the right boxes for his fans. Meanwhile, Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja has been given a meaty role too, as a cop and this role is important to the story. The highlight is Ravi Teja and Chiranjeevi doing the Poonakalu loading jig, which is a nice surprise and stays with you even after you leave the theatre. After a long time, Bobby Simha has got a good role with plenty of scope for performance though it is a negative character. And he has pulled it off. Shruti Haasan has a decent role as a RAW agent and does what is expected of her, while Catherine Tresa doesn’t have too much to do in the movie. Waltair Veerayya is a treat for Chiranjeevi fans this Sankranti. Poonakalu loaded. Read more