Cast: Vikram, Shriya, Krishna, Prabhu, Brahmanandam, Ashish Vidyarthi, Mukesh Tiwari, Mumait Khan and others.
Music: Devisri Prasad.
Presenter: V Creations Kalaipuli S. Thanu.
Story, Screenplay, & Director: Susi Ganeshan.
Release Date: August 21, 2009
It’s probably a fad to have traditional names for stylish heroines and dogs (Subramanyam in Vasantha Kokila) in south Indian (read as Tamil) films. So the very modern Shriya has her name as Subbalakshmi. The actress has become happening after Sivaji. Whether clad in half-sarees or skirts or shorts, Shriya’s mannerisms and dances all appear to be the same.
She has mastered the art of expressions however through her arched eyebrows and here in Mallanna she is no different, except for the fact that she sports very short hair. You will get to know that the producer has spent a lot on Mallanna, not just because Shriya is in a mood to have coffee with Mallanna and takes him to an exotic locale in a jet just for that cuppa.
Mallanna is the modern-day Robin Hood. He comes with a mask of a rooster, makes those funny noises, wipes the tears of the needy and vanishes. He is a CBI officer who in the garb of ‘Mallanna’ comes as a saviour fulfilling the needs of the people and leaves with an impression of a Trishul on the offender’s cheek. This happens with the knowledge of CBI director played by Krishna.
Once, Mallanna raids Ashish Vidyarthi’s home and when the daughter learns about it, she resolves to pay him back with the same coin by pretending to fall in love with him.
Mallana proves to be too smart for her. While Subbalakshmi wants to unravel the mystery, there is a turn in the story. She is seen accompanying Mallana to Mexico. Why does she go there? What happens there? The post-interval concentrates on those mentioned aspects.
Though the film appears to be a pastiche of various films, the first half runs interestingly, the heroine’s intro and her scenes look hurried. Shriya tearing of her clothes in order to trap Mallanna and her pretense looks bad.
Vikram is smashing. He looks suave, sophisticated as the CBI officer and slips into a woman’s and a old man’s role with ease. His blindfolded fight towards the end is interestingly captured.
The screenplay in the second half of the story falters, and towards the last half an hour it is a drag. Just to make the audience feel it’s a pucca Telugu film they have included Brahmanadam and the man tires you with his repetitive dialogues. Entertainment is hollow.
The film looks rich but one gets the feel that Vikram could have played the perfect Robinhood even without the fancy dress like costumes which did not add value to the film. The film had a lot of scope to show the redemption of the rich man effectively but the portrayal did not succeed. Right from the beginning of the film, one gets a feeling that the director is in a hurry to finish of the film but surprisingly the movie never seems to end.
Wonder why Krishna was taken in that officer’s role, except for the fact he wore a couple of good clothes and looked glamorous even in this age, he didn’t have anything constructive to do in the film.
Mallanna has good songs, ineffective dialogues, has an interesting first half but post-interval it disappoints.
Rating 2.5/5
Source:cinegoer
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