After delivering two smashing periodicals, 'Annamayya' and 'Sri Ramadasu', director K RaghavendrcaRao came up with 'Pandurangadu' with Balakrishna in the lead. Balakrishna surely has the last laugh. He excelled in playing dual roles, the Lord Panduranga and the devotee Pundarika.
Pundarika Ranganthudu (Balakrishna) is born on Krishnaashtami and follows Lord Krishna in respect of wine, women and mischief. He doesn't like to get married and whenever his parents ask him to marry; he runs away from home and returns after a prolonged romance with all kinds and all ages of females. A beautiful courtesan Amrutha (Tabu) comes to their village and Pundarika woes her with his charm and fighting skills. Soon they both indulge in a passionate relationship. Lakshmi (Sneha) is a beautiful young lady in the neighboring village and a great a great devotee of Lord Krishna. She envisages Lord Krishna in her dream and he tells her to marry Pundarika. But Pundarika, who don't want to stick to a single lady, refuses her. Lord Krishna plays his Leela. He sends a Maya Chakra which makes him to marry Laxmi. But he continues his illicit affair with Amritha. On the wedding night Pundarika gifts his wife's gold n jewelry to Amritha. Again with the interference of almighty he realizes his mistakes and the rest of the movie is how Pundarika becomes a great devotee of Lord Krishna.
Balakrishna is simply superb. He delivered a steady performance after a long time. Sneha performance when she was about to die is simply great. Tabu was just Ok. She could do better. Viswanath and all other actors did good work. Mohan Babu made his presence felt even in a small role. Some how, the casting could have been better. Freshness is lacking. LB Sriram doesn't fit as Narada.
This is a typical Bhakthi film. So it seems that the makers didnt give much importance to technical values. The film looks mediocre in over all technical aspects. Editing is good. Photography is average. They could've taken a little care about Make-Up. Computer Graphics work is very weak. It also lacks the periodic authenticity.
The combo of KRR-JKB-MMK have produced wonders like 'Annamayya and Sri Ramadasu'. Keeravani never disappoints you. 'Hey Krishna Mukunda Murari…' is the top number with good literary and music values. 'Yemani Adaganu' was also a good one. 'Mathrudevobhava' was very touching. But when compared with the Annamayya or Ramadasu this is far inferior. The orchestrisation was very similar to that of Annamayya and Ramadasu. Even Bharavi's script in many ways resembles with Annamayya. Especially both climax scenes were strikingly similar. But in Annamayya it is so vivacious and heart melting where as Pandurangadu is very cliched and too plastic. There is not much story to tell so he filled the first half with crude comic gags, cheap romantic scenes and songs. The real story happens in the second half in general and the last 45min in particular. Dialogues are not worthy and full of sexuality and vulgarity. In one scene Brahmanandam says to a lady…Naavi kattudu Pallu…Neevi pettudu-----( Mine are artificial dents and yours are artificial---). Screenplay in the first half was elastic and scenes were plastic. Even the graphically generated KRR orange fruits were artificial. The chemistry between Pundarika and his wife not etched out well. Even the very realization of Pundarika was forced. There is not even a single scene that shows Pundarika's devotion on Lord Krishna (except the song 'hey Krishna' which he sings it to save his wife but not to serve the god). According to this film Pundarika is a spoiled brat who realizes his mistakes and serves his parents at the end in just one scene. He even asks the god to wait till he serves his parents. The Chandramukhi angle given to Tabu's character was unconvincing.
1. The biggest USP of Pandurangadu is its director KRR. The magic of KRR worked again. His trade mark fruits and flowers, ducks and peacocks never failed to seize the audience. His Rakthi and Bhakthi formula seems to be successful in this film too.
2. Balakrishna's performance is very settled and adequate. Three cheers to his female impersonation. It was damn good and fantastic. As Lord Krishna he reminds you of the legendary NTR and as Pundareeka he was adorable.
4. MM Keeravani music, specially "Hey Krishna Mukunda" song, asset to the film
5. Mohan Babu's guest role is short but strong. He looks cool.
6. The last 30 minutes packed with strong emotional content breath life into the film.
Pandurangadu is probably 5-6 generations loss version of Annamayya. However this is a great relief to Balakrishna and his fans. The strong second half and KRR magic could turn this average film into a hit film. CAN WATCH IT ONCE.
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