Yashoda (134 minutes)
Samantha, Varalakshmi Sharat Kumar, Unni Mukundan, Murali Sharma, Rao Ramesh Direction & Written: Hari & Hareesh, Producer – Sivalenka Krishna Prasad Music: Mani Sharma, DoP: M Sukumar, Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Rama Krishna Sangem
Samantha who is recovering from a muscles disease has proved capable of playing a muscular role in “Yashoda” Telugu movie, released in theaters on November 11, Friday. Screen 1 of Prasads was near full, while all other multiplexes and some standalone theaters filled by 80 per cent seats on the first day. Producer must be happy with the opening box office collections. He may make good profits too.
If that happens, Samantha is singularly responsible for the success of the movie. After some gap, Samantha has come out in full blast with her stellar performance in this thriller with social angles. Women went to the movie in large numbers and they were not disappointed too. The story revolves around surrogacy and beauty enhancing cosmetics, both are closer to the heart of females.
At times, Samantha remembered us Uma Thurman in “Kill Bill 1& 2” movies. Sam carried the entire film on her shoulders (her shoulder muscles must be strong). She effortlessly performed all emotions – ranging from romantic (briefly), innocence, anguish and stoic. There were claps in theaters when Sam fights with men and even kills a couple of them. She is definitely a super star.
Young director duo – K Hari Shankar & k Hareesh Narayan – have run the narration on parallel levels – one, involving Samantha, and another a crime detection. They depended on gripping editing and the editor did the job well. Mani Sharma’s background score helped maintain the pace of editing. Cinematography neatly mingled with the narration. Fights added spice to the film.
Dialogues by Pulagam Chinnarayana and Challa Bhagya Lakshmi enhanced Telugu nativity to the narration.
Grisly sequences:
Like all Chennai or Tamil based story writers, Hari and Harish too opted for grisly twists and sequences in the story. Sometimes we may feel them unnecessary or excessive. Probably they have chosen these sequences for commercial considerations, but they will appear over the top for Telugu audience. This is the only weak point in the movie, otherwise, its worth watching – for a full length Samantha’s show.
