 The first thing that strikes you after watching Balu ---ABCDEFG is the sum of the parts doesn't add to give you a big whole. The film undoubtedly has many moments of cinematic excellence. But they have not been tied together by a binding script. The one problem may that the director was not sure what film to make --- action or love? In the event, he has given both in equal measure. The story, in itself is a loose adaptation from several films, runs smoothly till the first half. But after that it hits a roadblock as the true colors of the hero are shown.
Balu (Pawan Kalyan), a seemingly happy go lucky character, sets up shop (as a florist) at Mahankali market in Hyderabad. The market is owned by local don Nayudamma (J Singh). The latter had usurped the land from a zamindar (Suman). Balu's real intention is get the land from Nayudamma. He befriends him and gets close to him that he gets the land documents from him. But in reality, the land is already owned by a Delhi-based mafia leader Khan (Gulshan Grover). Khan comes to know that Balu is after the land. And Khan also knows that Balu is not Balu but actually Ghani his one-time hatchet man.
So how did the violent Ghani, who doesn't mind killing people, end up as Balu?
Well, Ghani once rescues a medico Indu (Neha Oberoi) who is attempting suicide. They fall in love with each other. But Indu is witness to a heinous crime of Khan. So Khan is out to kill her. And who is sent to kill her? Ghani, of course. But the two lovers elope, to Agra, where Indra's father lives. The father is none other than the zamindar who owns the market land in Hyderabad. But Khan's men kill Indra and Ghani becomes Balu and goes out to get the land that Indu dearly wanted. And before we are shown Balu as Ghani, he also gets to lark around with the another heroine (Shriya).
It is a story that readily lends itself to all typical cinematic elements. Fun, love, action, sentiments …everything is there. But the let down is that the script is not taut enough.
Pawan as Balu and Ghani is in splendid form. After the failures of Johnny and Gudumba (in which he was off-colour), he is almost back to his best. He has a natural flair for comedy and dance. He puts that to use in the first half. In the second, he is all aggression and gives play to sinews. He carries the entire film on his shoulder, and if it were a lesser hero, the movie would have come a cropper.
Shriya as the playful heroine, teasing and taunting Balu, is all fun. But it is Neha Oberoi who gets the plumpy role. The new girl, though looks cute, is not an inspired choice. The other villains, Gulshan Grover, J Singh, are efficient. Sourabh Shukla and Milind Gunaji are also in the cast and they leave their impressions.
Mani Sharma's music is a major asset to the film. Though slightly one-dimensional, his flair comes through. Ramesh's photography is top notch. The whole production values are of high standard.
Karunakarn, as a director, has got the best out of his crew. But as a scriptwriter he could have done better. You actually feel like watching two films in one film. Balu---ABCDEFG is a good film. But you also cannot help feel that it could have been better.
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