Ragada Review: Nagarjuna’s latest movie Ragada is released today amidst high expectations. Catchy title, massy songs, beautiful girls and of course King Nagarjuna played big role in creating pre release hype for Ragada.
Did Ragada movie (review) stand up to the hype? Is it a wholesome entertainer for the holiday crowd?
Let’s get into the details of Ragada movie in this Ragada review…
Story:
Satya (Nagarjuna) is a macho hero who can bash up any number of goons without even having a scratch on his body. He comes to Hyderabad from Kadapa and saves GK (Dev Gill) from an attack. Satya joins the gang of GK, who is loyal to a big don Peddanna (Pradeep Rawat). Satya starts killing GK opponents who are also close to Peddanna. What is Satya’s motive behind these murders? Why does he do anything for money? These questions are better answered on screen.
Analysis:
Veeru Potla, who said that he is a great fan of Nagarjuna sketched a character which would be cherished by Nagarjuna fans. The story of Ragada offers nothing new. Even the treatment of the film is done as per the age old commercial formula. First half of the film is packed with good humor, energetic songs and high voltage fights. Although there is nothing unseen or novel in the first half we won’t complain much as we get our dose of entertainment. However, the problem arises in the second half when the actual story starts.
Director shows only half of the hero’s flashback and throws in some (un)expected twists These series of twists involving both the heroines reminds you of Bollywood hit film Race. Then he reveals the rest of the flashback giving a lead to the climax very ordinary and too routine.
After knowing the whole story Ragada looks hollow and pointless. Director only tried to woo the fans and attract the masses with masala elements. If you go for a film for watching fights, songs, comedy and beautiful heroines flaunting their assets, then Ragada will surely entertain you. But if you look for something new or search for a purpose, Ragada leaves you in agony.
There are lots of continuity problems in this film. Pradeep Rawat warns that he would kill Nagarjuna in few hours during the interval scene. But he completely forgets about the deadline and takes his own time to reach him. There are many such instances where the director took liberty to write dialogs which neither he nor his characters takes them serious.
It is like every other commercial potboiler which can make quick bucks at the ticket windows. Even if we prepare ourselves for an entertaining fare, Ragada still disappoints you especially in the second hour.
Performances:
Nagarjuna looked handsome and younger than his previous flick. His style and charisma are an added bonus to this film. Nag tried for Rayalaseema accent which didn’t have any impact. Anushka is gorgeous. She has outdone the rest with her unmatchable screen presence. Priyamani exposed her body more than Anushka to make her presence felt. On performance side, she had the upper hand. Charmi sizzled in a song.
Pradeep Rawat doesn’t have anything to do except howling and yelling all the time. Dev Gill who excelled in Magadheera is given a spineless character in this film. Kota Srinivasa Rao is standard.
Brahmanandam played a lengthy role and helped the proceedings. In fact Brahmanandam is the only relief in this over dose action masala. Master Bharat is fine. There is nothing to mention about rest of the star cast.
Technicalities:
Veeru Potla’s funny one-liners worked in few scenes. On a whole he does an average job as dialogue writer. Thaman’s songs are in sync with the mood of the film. But nothing stays on your mind or haunts you. Background score is good though. Sarvesh Murari did a fantastic job behind the camera. His cinematography is the biggest plus for this stylishly shot film. Marthand K. Venkatesh editing is slick but there are few jumps here and there. Production values are good.
Veeru Potla yet again wrote a story which is a rehash of many hit films. He simply followed the commercial path to bag a hit. He has the potential but is deliberately restricting himself to be branded as a ‘safe’ director. On commercial front, he is an average director and still has to do lot of work to be considered on par with Rajamouli or VV Vinayak.
Plus Points:
- Entertainment
- Nagarjuna’s style
- Anushka’s glamour
- Commercial elements
Minus points:
- Age old story based on revenge formula
- Second half drags
- Ordinary climax
Final Word:
The release time would be the biggest plus for Ragada. Holiday season and no big releases at least for next two weeks should help the film to get into a safe zone. It should work commercially but content wise Ragada is just ordinary. Don’t expect too much from this film.
Ragada Review Rating: 3/5
Did Ragada movie (review) stand up to the hype? Is it a wholesome entertainer for the holiday crowd?
Let’s get into the details of Ragada movie in this Ragada review…
Story:
Satya (Nagarjuna) is a macho hero who can bash up any number of goons without even having a scratch on his body. He comes to Hyderabad from Kadapa and saves GK (Dev Gill) from an attack. Satya joins the gang of GK, who is loyal to a big don Peddanna (Pradeep Rawat). Satya starts killing GK opponents who are also close to Peddanna. What is Satya’s motive behind these murders? Why does he do anything for money? These questions are better answered on screen.
Analysis:
Veeru Potla, who said that he is a great fan of Nagarjuna sketched a character which would be cherished by Nagarjuna fans. The story of Ragada offers nothing new. Even the treatment of the film is done as per the age old commercial formula. First half of the film is packed with good humor, energetic songs and high voltage fights. Although there is nothing unseen or novel in the first half we won’t complain much as we get our dose of entertainment. However, the problem arises in the second half when the actual story starts.
Director shows only half of the hero’s flashback and throws in some (un)expected twists These series of twists involving both the heroines reminds you of Bollywood hit film Race. Then he reveals the rest of the flashback giving a lead to the climax very ordinary and too routine.
After knowing the whole story Ragada looks hollow and pointless. Director only tried to woo the fans and attract the masses with masala elements. If you go for a film for watching fights, songs, comedy and beautiful heroines flaunting their assets, then Ragada will surely entertain you. But if you look for something new or search for a purpose, Ragada leaves you in agony.
There are lots of continuity problems in this film. Pradeep Rawat warns that he would kill Nagarjuna in few hours during the interval scene. But he completely forgets about the deadline and takes his own time to reach him. There are many such instances where the director took liberty to write dialogs which neither he nor his characters takes them serious.
It is like every other commercial potboiler which can make quick bucks at the ticket windows. Even if we prepare ourselves for an entertaining fare, Ragada still disappoints you especially in the second hour.
Performances:
Nagarjuna looked handsome and younger than his previous flick. His style and charisma are an added bonus to this film. Nag tried for Rayalaseema accent which didn’t have any impact. Anushka is gorgeous. She has outdone the rest with her unmatchable screen presence. Priyamani exposed her body more than Anushka to make her presence felt. On performance side, she had the upper hand. Charmi sizzled in a song.
Pradeep Rawat doesn’t have anything to do except howling and yelling all the time. Dev Gill who excelled in Magadheera is given a spineless character in this film. Kota Srinivasa Rao is standard.
Brahmanandam played a lengthy role and helped the proceedings. In fact Brahmanandam is the only relief in this over dose action masala. Master Bharat is fine. There is nothing to mention about rest of the star cast.
Technicalities:
Veeru Potla’s funny one-liners worked in few scenes. On a whole he does an average job as dialogue writer. Thaman’s songs are in sync with the mood of the film. But nothing stays on your mind or haunts you. Background score is good though. Sarvesh Murari did a fantastic job behind the camera. His cinematography is the biggest plus for this stylishly shot film. Marthand K. Venkatesh editing is slick but there are few jumps here and there. Production values are good.
Veeru Potla yet again wrote a story which is a rehash of many hit films. He simply followed the commercial path to bag a hit. He has the potential but is deliberately restricting himself to be branded as a ‘safe’ director. On commercial front, he is an average director and still has to do lot of work to be considered on par with Rajamouli or VV Vinayak.
Plus Points:
- Entertainment
- Nagarjuna’s style
- Anushka’s glamour
- Commercial elements
Minus points:
- Age old story based on revenge formula
- Second half drags
- Ordinary climax
Final Word:
The release time would be the biggest plus for Ragada. Holiday season and no big releases at least for next two weeks should help the film to get into a safe zone. It should work commercially but content wise Ragada is just ordinary. Don’t expect too much from this film.
Ragada Review Rating: 3/5
Behind the Movie Ragada: Off late Nagarjuna has been out of form and urgently needs a hit. Same is valid for Anushka and producer Shiva Prasad Reddy. Fresh from the success of ‘Bindaas,’ Veeru Potla is proved not just a superb story writer but also a good director. Well, let us see how far did Veeru Potla succeed in giving a new massy look for Nag in ‘Ragada’? In the Movie Ragada: Satya Reddy uraf Kadapa (Nagarjuna) lands in city with a purpose. Soon impresses local goon GK (Dev Gill of Magadheera fame) and joins his team. GK has a strong opponent in Peddanna (Pradee Rawat) whose rowdy activities are looked after by Gangayya (Kota), Nanda (Sushanth), Bhagawan (Supreet) and Jayaram (Shravan). GK’s would be wife Sirisha (Anushka) falls instantly in love with Kadapa and tries to woo him with the help of darling Basava Raju (Brahmanandam).
GK and Kadapa plan their moves carefully, kill one by one in Peddanna’s troop, and finally remain with Nanda and Peddanna. In parallel we see a story of Ashta Lakshmi (Priyamani) and her family taking the shelter with Kadapa to save her family from Peddanna’s henchmen. With in no time, GK takes the side of Peddanna backstabbing Kadapa and here comes the twist where flashback of Kadapa is revealed.
Kadapa uraf Satya Reddy’s mother Dr. Kamalamma is brutally killed by Peddanna and his brother Devender Reddy (Satya Raj). So, Satya is on a revenge taking process which is the ulterior motive of joining the team of GK. Here also come one more twist related to Sirisha and Ashta Lakshmi not much useful to the main story line. How did Satya complete hunt his final enemy Peddanna forms the climax.
Values of the Movie Ragada: Movie is simply a revenge drama. What makes Ragada interesting is intelligently knitted screenplay where in one doesn’t know the identity and real name of Kadapa till the interval. Veeru Potla maintained sufficient tempo throughout the movie except few parts of second half. To mention in specific, Veeru will get huge applause for extra ordinary dialogues which suited the body language of Nagarjuna 100%. Direction wise Veeru Potla was almost successful with typical designing of Nag’s Kadapa character, a rare mass feast which King missed in last two to three years. Cinematography by Sarvesh Murari was top notch and we don’t see anything ore stylish than this for a movie of this content. Editing by Marthand K Venkatesh breathed the life without decreasing the pulse. Thaman provided awesome background while two songs (1. Title Song and 2. Baba Sehgal) were rocking. Picturization of songs in costly sets or unexplored foreign locales lifted the output of average music. Production values of Kamakshi Arts are all time high and thanks to Shiva Prasad Reddy for exhibiting the uncompromised approach towards Nag.
Performance wise, Nagarjuna is Mr. Perfect. We don’t find even a single flaw in entire movie from his side. Special interest taken in selection of costumes, maintaining the body language and spelling the Kadapa accent worked in Ragada. Anushka was as usual hot like a BULLET while Priyamani is sweet like a CHOCOLATE. Both of them were given enough screen time and the glamour show one of the best in recent times. Brahmanandam evoked enough laughs. Pradeep Rawat, Supreet, Sushanth, Shravan, Kota Srinivas Rao were at their routine but elevated in characterizations by dialogues of Veeru. Comedy performances by Dharmavarapu, Master Bharat, Sana was just average.
Out of the Movie Ragada: In simple, this is a dazzling comeback by Nagarjuna. Ragada is one man Nag’s show and Veeru Potla needs to be highlighted for effective presentation. Although Ragada is a formula movie; Veeru made it interesting by offering the twists and turns at needed times. One could easily find out that everything in the movie, either story or richness or action sequences or songs are designed for a strong comeback for Nagarjuna and he utilizes it.
First half runs cool with stylish taking, comedy episodes, glamour show and the interest graph reaches peak with interval block. Second half we see peaks falling down drastically with a lag but Veeru tried his best to raise the curiosity quotient with two twists and turns which aren’t of course that useful to main story.
Keeping the logics especially in climax episodes and too many fights away, Ragada is a mass masala entertainer which doesn’t disappoint any of the regular movie lovers. If you are in search of arguments and reasoning, Ragada will not be that appealing. Finally, Nag can keep the cash registers ringing in this last weeks of 2010.
First Half Dhada Dhada - Second half Gada Bida 
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