Review: Eega makes all the right noises

As the movie credits roll on the screen, there is a huge round of applause when director SS Rajamouli's name appears ' a rarity for a director.

That, in short, sums up the popularity he enjoys. Given that he delivered stupendous hits such as 'Chatrapathi', 'Yamadonga' and 'Magadheera', there was a lot of expectation from Rajamouli's 'Eega'. And he delivers a super duper product that rocks with entertainment and technical values.

To borrow titles from the current day movies, this Eega's racha is kevvu keka! It scores high on all angles. A strong, revenge story; Great screenplay; sound direction ' nowhere do you even as much look away from the screen; Good sense of humour, superb acting by Sudeep and high end graphics which makes a hero out of a simple house fly.

Add to it an apt background score, soothing music by Keeravani and classically beautiful Samantha, you have a two and half hour technical and SFX extravaganza that delivers a mind-blowing punch.

There is no harm in giving away the story simply because it is the 'how' rather than the 'what' that keeps you glued to the seats. Nani (Nani) is the boy next door who is deeply in love with girl next door Bindu (Samantha).

For over two years, he has been sending her feelers but she rarely responds although she also loves him and is shy to tell him the same. Meanwhile, millionaire business tycoon Sudeep (Kannada star Sudeep) lusts after the gorgeous Bindu when she approaches him to make a donation for her charity organisation.

He tries to be generous to get close to her but she seems unaffected by his moves. Considering Sudeep is a lady killer who can get any woman to fall for him, he takes it as a challenge to get Bindu fall in love with him. But when he realises that she is also in love with Nani, he kills him secretly.

This is where the story begins. Nani takes birth as an eega (housefly) to avenge his death and protect Bindu from the evil eyes of Sudeep. The diminutive fly takes on a millionaire who lives in an ivory tower and surrounded by a host of security guards, makes his life miserable and ultimately kills him.

The highlights of the movie include the visually stunning scenes involving Nani's atma entering into a just-born fly, how he uses Bindu's tears to connect with her again, how he causes the traffic jam to prevent Sudeep from reaching the airport on time to fly away to Mumbai, the accident that almost kills Sudeep etc.

The interval scene with the fly signing off on the windshield that it will kill him gives the movie a beautiful twist.

Although it is a revenge drama, there is no dearth of humour or heart-warming moments. Nani's screen time is barely 20 minutes but he makes so much of a mark that throughout the movie, you feel as though he is trapped in the fly.

The manner in which he interprets every action of Bindu ' including when she shuts off the window on his face or sends a blank sms ' is downright cute.

Sudeep researching the internet about whether flies can really take revenge, different species of flies etc is hilarious. So is the bit with a thief (Tagubothu Ramesh) who has a funny interlude in the climax scene.

Rama Rajamouli's styling is good - Sudeep looks like a Casanova with his cool stoles and Samantha has never looked so beautiful despite being so fully clothed.

There are several smart mind games the fly plays on Sudeep. Like in a Sidney Sheldon novel, the fly works on every angle of his life ' his health, his sanity, his money, his power and starts destroying each one to weaken him. The story takes a fresh turn when Sudeep realises that even Bindu is part of Operation Eega.

The major credit should go to cinematographer KK Senthil and his special effects team which has created the fly, given it a character and made it express all its emotions beautifully on screen through body language.

The way the fly gives a high five to Bindu, challenges and teases Sudeep, even goes all mushy in romance are beautifully animated.

However, the only grouse about the movie is that the fly's buzz sounds more like that of a mosquito's. In any case, we pardon such errors to give the movie full marks on all counts.

Kids are going to totally fall in love with the Eega. And yes, don't walk out of the movie until you see 'The End' or you will miss the legendary fly doing Chiru's historic 'Veena step' from 'Indra', another from NTR's 'Yamadonga' and even do Ravi Teja's 'Jintata chita chita'.

Final verdict: Give Hollywood's Spider-Man a skip and go for Tollywood's Eega man. It is totally worth it.