Review: SriRamarajyam - a Magnum Opus sans 'x' factor

Hyderabad: First things first, not every director or producer has the audacity in this generation to make a film based on mythology and even if one makes it, considering the budget proportions it is highly difficult to pull off such films when compared with those of 60's and 70's. Sri Ramarajyam directed by veteran Bapu has its up and downs.

Though the veteran is known for making films such as Sampoorna Ramayanam, Sita Kalyanam and Sri Ramanjaneyayuddham based on the epic Ramayana, his new release Sri Ramarajyam sadly never engages as the aforementioned films.

The film deals with the Uttarakanda of Ramayana. Lord Rama (Balakrishna) with Sita (Nayanatara) comes to Ayodhya after defeating Raavana. He is crowned the king of Ayodhya and as everything goes well, a washer man played by Brahmanandam in a moment of despair doubts Sita's chastity.

Rama, who comes to know about this through his spy, has to make a decision whether to banish Sita from Ayodhya or let him along with Sita go to forest once again. Bound by his duty, Rama asks Lakshmana to drop the pregnant Sita in the forest. And what follows forms the story.

The film starts off on a positive note with Jagadanandakaaraka song; it could have been choreographed better as the dance movements did not seem to blend with the Tretayugam.

With Balakrishna donning the role of Rama, immortalised by his late legendary father, N T Rama Rao, the film moves on slowly before the inevitable happens, Rama ordering Sita to the forest.

The problem with Sri Ramarajyam is its pace. It never moves on a pace that it could have been more engaging. Screenplay done by Bapu's close friend and renowned writer late Ramana could have been tight but considering its genre, one should expect that Ramana had his limitations. Care should have been taken with the costumes of the extras.

The film is predominantly dependent on the characters of Lava and Kusha apart from Sita and Valmiki (played by ANR) in the first half. Sita hardly has any dialogues in the first half as she mostly speaks through facial expressions. While Balaiah, though looks haggard in patches, portrays the role convincingly.

He excels when he recites poetry and not surprisingly, as the actor is known for such roles and lives up to what is expected of him. Portraying Valmiki must've have been a cakewalk for the legendary actor ANR. Teja and Satvik, who play Lava and Kusha, have done a good job but at places they look artificial.

In a scene in the second half, instead of looking towards the character they are speaking to, one of the twins looks towards the camera and that looks a bit awkward on the screen. Srikanth as Lakshmana does justice to his role. Roja, Murali Mohan, Sudha, Subbaraya Sharma, Nagineedu and the veteran Balaiah in miniscule roles do their bit.

The melodrama in the second half will hamper the film to an extent. People are bound to feel restless at places in the second half.

Although mythological movies are known to have ample number of songs, somehow the songs seem to disturb the flow of the film which is close to two hours 50 minutes. Incidentally, the climax seems a bit low-key considering the melodrama the rest of the movie has.

Coming to the technical department, Maestro Ilayaraja does a fine job with songs and background score. However, barring the Jagadanadakaaraka, no other song lingers on you.

Photography by G R K Raju is good as one is bound to be transported to the days of Ayodhya. Special mention should be given to the art directors, Ravinder and Kiran Kumar, sets of Valmiki ashram and interiors of Rama's kingdom have been designed to perfection.

Special effects are well in patches as one after a long time will witness arrows flying in the sky to better each other. Care should have been taken in this battle episodes department as shots look terribly artificial.

Coming to Bapu's direction, he could have made the screenplay tighter without excess melodrama, but the veteran surprisingly disappoints us in this department. On the whole, Sri Ramarajyam can be watched for its grandeur and performances though it lacks the x factor which could have taken it to the next level.