December 30, 2011 Y. Sunita Chowdary
Kshetram is an incredibly lousy film. Jagapathi Babu comes later on and lends certain amount of dignity to his role but a bad screenplay and weak, tame dialogues mar the film's prospects. Shaam of 'Kick' fame and Priyamani in the opening scenes are a pain to watch.
The obese heroine wears gawdy costumes in Malaysia, looks ultra modern but her behaviour is century old. To make matters worse, as her adipose tissue keeps jutting out of her clothes, her partner also jumps into shorts in the duets. She speaks Hindi, is coy and demure and her entire family overreacts at every needless situation and dialogue..like raising eyebrows, bringing tears into the eyes and getting heavily dramatic.
Shaam on his part has to be very affectionate to her and into this very sugary and syrupy surroundings enters the big story. Jagapathi Babu is Veera Narasimha Rayulu and Priyamani is Naga Penchalamma. By the time Sohini (Priyamani in double role) walks into Chakri's (Shaam) home we are already treated to the facts. Then there is a sub-plot too that establishes the purpose of Jagapati Babu and Priyamani.
Kshetram is replete with clichés and anything about it hardly excites you. The story and direction is outdated. Jagapathi Babu does the inevitable, slaps his thigh and there are echoes too. Brahmanandam is an absolute pain, his dialogues border on vulgarity and he addressing Surekha Vani as 'Aroma' is stupid. Song, dance appear in serious situations.
One has seen Kota Srinivasa Rao, Tanikella Bharani in many such roles, no character comes alive on the screen save for Jagapathi Babu. The special effects are reasonably okay but that doesn't become the selling point of the film. Gone are those days when heroines eyes turn red, they leave their hair, pull out a spear and thrust it into a character's stomach.
While Priyamani gets the opportunity to doll up in all jewellery and silk sarees, one is left to look out frantically for the exit door. Kshetram is not worth dicussing.
|
