Jhummandi Naadam Movie Review

Behind the Movie Jhummandi Naadam: Darshakendra of Telugu Cinema K. Raghavendra Rao is again ready with his flavor to serve the tasty audience. Joining him is the sensational beauty Taapsee, Manchu Manoj and Mohan Babu. With Keeravani’s music sounding high in the public, producer Manchu Lakshmi has promised a family treat with reminiscience of loosing traditional values. Let us see, how far is ‘Jhummandi Naadam’ a Zooming treat.

In the Movie Jhummandi Naadam: Balu (Manchu Manoj), a youngster with his mesmerizing voice aspires to become a singer as famous as SP Balasubramaniam. Challenging his rival village head (Ahuthi Prasad) in Bhadrachalam, Balu with all the blessings from parents (Tanikella Bharani, Sudha) lands in city to make his dream true. With his team of friends Balu resides in Kakatiya Colony, exactly in the opposite house of Captain Rao (Mohan Babu), who has no interest in music. Irritated by musical sounds of Balu and Co, Rao always indulges in petty war insulting them as irresponsible, indisciplined and goal less youth.

Shravya (Taapsee), daughter of Rao’s best friend (Suman) residing in the USA is now on the way to India for a research on Telugu traditional music. Obviously Shravya and Balu gets interested in each other for their matching of tastes on music. Shravya with persmission from Rao hires Balu to assist her in completion of project work and slowly they start loving each other. In parallel, Balu too gets an opportunity to participate in a Musical Contest conducted by Gemini. Rao, who doesn’t like Balu’s attitude creates him a hurdle to forget Shravya in order to get an entry into the musical contest.

Balu is struck up in a situation of selecting only one option between Love and Career. As Balu’s life is music, he accepts Rao’s condition and promises to forget Shravya. Wonder, Balu pays no attention to Rao’s condition but tries to get away from Shravya and as usual the more he tries,  more he gets close to her. Finally, when the final of music competition for Balu is to begin, Shravya’s father arrives from USA to take away his daughter from the life of Balu. Did Balu win the music competition? Has Shravya’s father and Rao accept their love? How did Balu show the power of present youth? form the climax.
 
Values of the Movie Jhummandi Naadam: Raghavendra Rao has once again banked upon an old story line. So, more was demanded from his style of treatment and a strong screen play. Options available for Raghavendra Rao were Keeravani, Mohan Babu, Manoj and Taapsee. Yes, he made best utilisation of all the four in getting a satisfactory out put. Mohan Babu has done his part with ease showing sufficient negative shades. His dialogue delivery and the pitch in his voice once again stood highlighted. Manoj this time has got a character struggling between Love and Career. Many a times, he tried to enter the glove of Mohan Babu and was fairly good. Especially comedy scenes between this son and father are cheered well by audience in second half.  Next in the list is Taapsee. Sensational debut she has made. With an awesome body and shining skin tone, Taapsee was like a feast to eyes. She never felt uncomfortable before the camera, particularly songs, Taapsee has become a beautiful flower, tasty fruit and a cool coconut in the hands of Raghavendra Rao. With such ease, Taapsee is surely to make a stay in Tollywood. Remaining others like Aishwarya, Tanikella Bharani, Sudha, Ahuthi Prasad, Brahmanandam, Ali, MS Narayana were okay.

Years gone, he has seen hits, super hits, mega hits…yet Raghavendra Rao never changes his school of picturization. Though story wise nothing extra ordinary to elevate the movie, every time you get sick of narration Raghavendra Rao comes with a song to take you a long distance away into his world of flowers, fuits, water, sky and many more to make you relaxed and sit right in your seat. What a master he is? Hats off to his sense of portraying the heroine, angling of cameras and picturization of songs. Keeravani takes the major credit of ‘Jhummandi Naadam.’ ‘Laali Paaduthunnadi Gaali, Em Sakkagunnaav Ro,’ these two songs stand one of the bests in combo of Keeravani and Raghavendra Rao, both in sounding and picturization. Background score once again gave taste to half baked story. Suddala Ashok Teja has done amazing work lyrically. Dialogues by BVS Ravi fall short of expectations. To mention in special, scenes between Manoj and Mohan Babu demanded more of his work. Gopal Reddy’s cinematography has become eyes of Raghavendra Rao in capturing the beauty of art work done by Raghu Kulakarni. Editing by Marthand Venkatesh looked fine. Production values of Manchu Lakshmi Prasanna and her banner stand glamorously highlighted.

Out of the Movie Jhummandi Naadam: Give both of them a small story (or for that matter no story) and leave them together for two months. Raghavendra Rao and Keeravani will come out with situations, songs and eye feast picturizations which will leave you spell bound. Same happened here with Jhummandi Naadam, though we have Gopi Mohan’s regular story, undoubtedly Raghavendra Rao and Keeravani have become the hidden heroes and saviors of the project. A Classical song, a Laali song, a Romantic song, a Marriage song, a Sankranthi song, a Folk song and last a Patriotic song. The way Raghavendra Ro and Keeravani complimented each other by creating situations themselves to insert these songs make the new generation technicians to learn. Movie is watchable for foot tapping songs and a full meal for eyes looking at Taapsee’s beauties. That is all ‘Jhummandi Naadam’ is all about and nothing more than that. Both first half and second half, you are just impressed with songs. Given the present market in Tollywood, Jhummandi Naadam can be on safe side of collections at BO for atleast one to two weeks.

Cinejosh Verdict of the Movie Jhummandi Naadam: Typical mixed flavor of Raghavendra Rao and Keeravani.

Comment: One of the audience coming out of theatres commented that, Raghavendra Rao can happily start his own Fruit & Flower wholesale business.
                                                                             Reviewed by Srivaas