Review: Mr.Nookayya - a time pass film

Hyderabad: The film is about two stories which are connected in the course of the story. Nookayya (Manoj) prefers to be called himself as Mr. Nokia. He is a mobile thief with able support from Chicha (Vennela Kishore). Both are orphans raised by Nampally (Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao).

Nokia is in love with Sana, a bartender, but she will only settle down with him unless he attains some status in the society by earning money and owning a house with a car.

He plots a plan to raise big money but in the process loots money of Anu (Krithi Karbhanda) who is to return ransom to kidnappers who abducted her husband Kiran (Raja). What happens to Nokia's love and will Anu gets Kiran back forms the rest of the story.

To start with the film takes off on a fresh note with a montage song featuring the newly married couple, Anu and Kiran and then it is followed up by the routine stuff of introductory songs, fight sequences and chases and over the top acting.

They form a part and parcel of the film in the first half. If Tollywood of late is into double meaning dialogues then this film boasts of such scenes, the chase sequence featuring Nokia and Sana.

With a script that has nothing novel to offer, the director instead of making the screenplay interesting focuses more on how to present the film stylishly thereby losing the grip of the film in many occasions. Predictability is at its best as you can easily get a hang of things to come, fault of the screenplay writer.

With an unsteady tempo in the first half, the film to an extent begins in the latter half. Performances and emotions strike right chords over here but is it enough to save the sinking ship? To an extent yes.

Manoj taking care of the action department provides a new lease to the film but the raw emotions in the latter half provide the much needed respite for the film.

They lay a foundation to a strong climax which is shot well and turns out to be the savior of the film.Performances wise, Manoj could have curbed his histrionics at the beginning of the film.

The actor can speak a lot through his eyes; the interval portion proves it and the director uses this too bring out his best as the film progresses.

Sana Khan is just there for the glamour. Krithi Karbhanda is good in patches since she is given a role which requires her to keep a gloomy face throughout the film. Raja took a path which paid rich dividends at the end.

Murali Sharma as the cunning kidnapper delivers the goods and for a change he is the new age villain humming Kolaveri Di and Bhaag Bhaag DK Bose whereas Vennela Kishore, Brahmaji and Brahmanandam's characters fall flat.

Rounding up,' Mr. Nookayya' is a time pass fare which has more style than substance.

It is shot well but it can't be the sole reason for a film which is nothing but telling a story effectively and interestingly. A classic case of old wine in a new bottle.