NOTA Review

NOTA Review, What’s Behind:

Vijay Deverakonda has become a heartthrob in youth with the kind of films he has come up with so far. However, he is experimental with NOTA which is a political drama thriller. What kind of result will his new experiment give? Let’s discuss in review part…

NOTA Story Review:

A cinema actor turned politician Vasudev (Nassar), chief minister of the state makes his spoiled son Varun (Vijay Deverakonda) a substitute CM before he gets arrested in a scam. Vasudev is victimized in bomb attack when relieved from prison. Meanwhile, one serious incident brings big change in Varun who takes CM job seriously. But, this irks his own father. Who will win the power game between father and son? Who is behind bomb attack on Vasudev? What is Satyaraj’s connection with Vasudev?

NOTA Artists, Technicians Review:

Director Anand Shankar and his writing team took few real happenings in Tamil Nadu politics as inspiration to pen this subject. What really spoiled the film is immature screenplay, silly instances and weak taking. It appeared more like a patch work of scenes without coherence because of pathetic narrative. For Telugu audience, it hardly has any connecting elements. Anand Shankar nowhere showed his intelligence in dealing the subject which is not apt on a young hero like Vijay Deverakonda who seemed fit for youthful entertainers. They threw complete burden on this young man’s shoulder. What’s more worse is inclusion of uncalled for commercial elements such as songs etc. Sam CS was good in making visuals believable with his background score. But, songs will annoy us to the fullest. Cinematographer Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran is the only one from technical team who did his job efficiently. Editor Raymond Derrick Crasta might be clueless about what is good and what is bad, so he included plenty of unnecessary scenes. Production values of Studio Green are high in standard.

Onto artists, Vijay Deverakonda proved his mettle in different genre films previously. NOTA indeed was a biggest challenge for him. However, Vijay played his role effortlessly. He was impeccably powerful in few key scenes such as addressing media after a massive riot, grabbing people attention with his speech at opposition party meeting. Mehreen Pirzada has countable scenes and she is of no use for the film. Nasser and Satyaraj showed their experience but their flashback episodes will test our patience. Sanchana Natarajan was ineffective as young opposition party youth leader. MS Bhaskar is faultless as Nassar’s right hand. Comedian Priyadarshi was wasted completely. Other artists were good.

NOTA Review Advantages:

Vijay Deverakonda

Nasser, Sathyaraj and Bhaskar

Cinematography

Few Political Dialogues

NOTA Review Drawbacks:

Old And Tested Political Plot

Lethargic Narration

Second Half

Songs

Direction

Screenplay

NOTA Review Rating Analysis:

Political thrillers are all about power game between two or more persons. Coming to NOTA, it is a four dimensional fight between a CM, his son, opposition party and another influential person. Though the fight between CM and his son is acceptable, there is no strong and driving point for the other threads as there is no proper antagonist to pivot the other end. Apparently plot is written based on few key scenes. But, audience will be engaged if and only if each and every scene is narrated firmly and convincingly.

NOTA begins on a boring note with introduction of Vijay Deverakonda as a spoilt youth whose only intent is to enjoy life to the fullest. Bad impression is developed with this very first episode where Vijay found enjoying with lots of girls at a pub. Then, Nasser’s press meet will remind us of current day political scenario of how politicians are making their inexperienced sons as political heirs. Vijay Deverakonda’s strong retort to uproar created by his own party leaders is obviously one of the best parts. The way he silences a media person when the latter tries to interrupt him shows how good actor Vijay is. Then the flow is messed up next where Vijay parties hard with babes. The setup towards interval influences Vijay to become a serious rowdy politician.

Second half too begins on dull note. Vijay along with his team monitors floods situation in Hyderabad which appears non-sync for Telugus, though Tamil people might connect. Sathyaraj’s flashback is not just boredom, it also gives us few hints about Nassar’s character. Panama episodes are only to introduce us the fourth thread. MLAs locking in a resort and no-confidence motion will again jog our memory of Tamil Nadu politics. After so much agony, finally movie comes to an end as real culprit is arrested.

All in all, NOTA is a pretty average film with good performances from four lead actors. Vijay Deverakonda again proved that he can  justifiy on any given character. He delivered best when it comes to performance. The film is sure to open big with Vijay’s presence. And coming to Tamil, it has many popular Tamil artists such as Nassar, Satyaraj etc. CJ goes with 2.5 stars and final Box office verdict depends on how the film is received at B and C centers.