As Yamaho Yama completes, it is sure to seem like an accidental socio-fantasy film. The hero, at some point in the story, falls in love with Swapna (Parvathi Milton), who is loved and lusted by Jinda, a bloodthirsty villain. Now Jinda is greater than Obul Reddy (Prakash Raj's character in Okkadu) because this erstwhile vagabond committed a series of political murders and soaked himself in factionism just to overpower Peddi Reddy and win his daughter by his asura-like force. Otherwise, he would still be leading the life of a beggar (almost).
It is now up to Balu (Sairam Shankar, an accidental and unmistakably baneful male lead of Tollywood) to save Swapna from being forcibly taken over by the Rakshasa-like lecher. Wait, there is a stupid slip up here. Once Balu is in Adoni, the Rakshasa prefers to entertain his rival lover's tantrums, allows himself to be belittled and taken for a ride, even as his many henchmen behave like headless jokers till the last. Now and then he tries to kill the hero on the run, but inexplicably prefers not to touch him with a barge pole when he is at an arm's length.
With a handful of funny villains like these, no Telugu hero would need the help of a Supernatural Lord to redeem himself. Yet the film throws up one devastatingly asinine Yama twist that only makes this story the worst of the year.
To carve an identity for his otherwise hero vs villain story, the director adds an element without realizing that it can only make it look all the more laughable. When Balu was a kid, an aghora-like person predicted that he will die at 25. Just to make sure that he has the blessings of the Lord of Death, his wise grandma makes him chant `Yamaho Yama'. Lord Yama (Sri Hari) is quite impressed with his first-ever devotee and takes it upon himself to convert Balu, now an irresponsible youngster, into a bold lover boy with the help of Manmadha.
Wait, there is another flaw here. Balu is not entirely irresponsible. He hoodwinks rich people into giving him money so as to feed orphans. (Stupidly enough, he is shown as a hedonist living at the expense of others). There is more to his illustrious life. He can make a tiger dance to his tunes. He is so lucky to be called great by our heroine for chanting Yamaho Yama. (God knows what is so "great" about it).
Chitraguptha (MS Narayana) is someone who is both wise enough to give his Lord ideas as well as unrestrained enough to show his weakness for American ladies in swimsuits. There are shots and censored lines which are strictly for voyeurs. Thanklessly, our hero has great respect for India! (Ego-massaging Indians by a dumb character is the least we want).
Why do Yama and Chitraguptha land up elsewhere other than at Balu's place? To allow space for cheap comedy.
It is difficult to measure up this film's silliness without talking about Sri Hari. Even speaking charitably, one would want to say that the Real Star looked like a Fake Yama.
From the word go, you keep praying, "Oh God! No song please." Mahathi's music works for two songs but they have been wasted in a lame film. The dialogues lack any punch.
The film seems to have been made hinging on the idea of hero worshipping Yama. For heaven's sake, how did the director and the producer think that it is a novel idea?
Released on: 14th Dec, 2012
