Never Ending Movie Carnival
Never Ending Movie Carnival
Akhanda movie review: NBK heads this roaring crowd pleaser powered by Lord Shiva
What: Akhanda - Nandamuri Balakrishna aka NBK is terrific in this roaring crowd pleaser, the reunion of Balakrishna and Boyapati Srinu after the award winning money spinners Simha (2010) and Legend (2014) this time gets the blessings of Lord Shiva in this mass appealing and fan rejoicing battle between the good and the evil.
Akhanda movie synopsis
Murali Krishna (Balakrishna) is a lion hearted rich farmer who protects the poor and bashes the goons. Most of his income gets spend for the welfare of the people of his village. An honest IAS officer Sravanya (Pragya Jaiswal), arrives to take charge and gets flattered by Murali Krishna’s good deeds and popularity. While this love story is taking place, Varadarajulu (Srikanth) is running an illegal copper mines field and due to uranium radiation people staying near the villages are falling sick.
Murali Krishna and Varadarajulu are at logger heads and suddenly when Varadarajulu gains an upper hand over Murali Krishna, enters an Aghora sadhu - Akhanda Rudra Sikandar Aghora (Balakrishna in dual role) to deal with this powerful evil. Who is Akhanda Rudra Sikandar and why he is here?, finds the crux of this mass action drama.
Boyapati Srinu sticks to the rule on how to make a mass appealing fan pleasing action drama and is least bothered about what the haters of OTT (over the top) cinema will think. This time the inclusion of an Aghora sadhu - Akhanda Rudra Sikandar Aghora as the super power the savior pleases the common worshippers of Lord Shiva in general as well. Balakrishna as Aghora sadhu is the biggest USP of Akhanda.
The second USP is the connection with the Hindu supreme God Lord Shiva.
The third USP is the powerful antagonist in Varadarajulu.
A powerful antagonist is a must for a mass masala action dhamaka.
The fourth USP which should have been the No. 1 USP is the plot premises which beings with two new born kids.
Boyapati Srinu is guilty of concentrating too much on his bankable star Balakrishna.
Akhanda has everything a hungry soul of mass action drama who happens to be a fan of Balakrishna can ask for.
People flying all over, the rules of gravity going for a toss, high BGM whenever Akhanda Rudra Sikandar Aghora enters.
Boyapati Srinu had the opportunity to debate on the protection of nature, the form of God, human greed and mankind but looses it this roar to showcase the new avatar of Balakrishna.
Rishab Shetty’s Kantara did it marvelously.
Boyapati Srinu’s Akhanda falls prey to familiarity and its dam predictable.
The dialogues are good from the Aghora end, a challenging counter would have elevated the movie.
Still Akhanda is an entertaining crowd pleaser and a fan’s delight.
This is the review of the Hindi version and it’s a mystery why they waited for a year to release this in theatres.
Performance
Akhanda is a Balakrishna show all the way and he is superb.
Pragya Jaiswal looks beautiful and has her moments.
Jagapathi Babu as Aghora Baba is fantastic.
Srikanth as Antahpuram Varadarajulu, the owner of the copper mining is menacing
Nithin Mehta as Gajendra Sahu is good.
Poorna as Padmavathi IAS, is fine.
Kalakeya Prabhakar makes his presence felt as a cruel police officer.
Final words
Akhanda – the Hindi version of the 2021 Telugu super hit is releasing on January 20, 2023 to cash on the gap left before the arrival of King Khan Shah Rukh Khan much awaited big ticket Pathaan.
If you love OTT mass masala action drama from south and/or if you are a fan of Nandamuri Balakrishna aka NBK then Akhanda is your ticket.
A child born from life & fed by cinema. A filmi keeda from child & a film journalist for the last fifteen years. a father, seeker, foodie who loves crooning bollywood melodies twitter.com/cineblues More By vishal verma