Aa Naluguru Review

Principles always help one to anchor in life. In these cynical times, it takes a lot of conviction to stick to one's ideals. To make a film on an idealistic person so deserves acclaim.

So Chandra Siddartha, the director of the film in question, deserves that as he showcases the life and times of a principle-filled journalist and what comes to him when he slips from his high moralistic platform.

But when you turn the critical searchlights on the film, it falls flat. For one, it is predictable and almost typecast the hero as an impossible do-gooder.

Raghuram (Rajendra Prasad) is an unbending scribe and spends his money on social activities. But when his children need money for their higher education, marriage and stuff like that, things come to a head. So in a weak moment, he acquiesces and makes money in a manner that he wouldn't otherwise have. His children get the money, but Raghuram cannot bear what he had done and hence takes the extreme step. Posthumously, his family understands his ideals. But then it is too late. The whole story, told in a flashback (from the hero's perspective in heaven with Yamaraj), is too slow and never creates the right cinematic twists and turns.

Rajendra Prasad, in a new get up, is good. But also overdoes at places his do-gooder act. The rest of the cast is okay. Technical aspects just pass muster.

On the whole, it is a good story to tell. But bad cinema, all the same.