Cast : Mahesh Babu, Kajal Agarwal, Brahmaji, Dharmavarapu, Subrahmanyam, Prakash Raj, Brahmanandam, Sayaji Shinde, Ali and Others
Movie Name : Businessman
Banner : RR Movie Makers
Music : Dhaman.S
Cinematography : Shyam K.Naidu
Story : Puri Jagannadh
Screenplay : Puri Jagannadh
Producer: Venkat
Director: Puri Jagannath
Releasing Date : 13/01/2012
Curtain Raiser :
Dynamic
Director Puri Jagannadh has been unable to shake off the sceptre of
Pokiri, the last venture in the combination of Puri Jagannadh and
Mahesh Babu, that released five years ago. All of Puri’s ventures since
Pokiri have failed to live up to expectations, despite a Nandi award
for Best Dialogue Writer for Neninthe. Now, he’s back with Mahesh Babu
with renewed energy, trying to re-establish his credentials as a script
writer and director.
With
Mahesh’s image having scaled new heights after the blockbuster success
of Dookudu, Puri has turned in a script that elevates that image
further in an action and dialogue packed one man show affair, with
Mahesh essaying a role the exact opposite of their last venture Pokiri.
Whereas in Pokiri, the protagonist set out to infiltrate the mafia in
order to vanquish them as a sincere police officer, in Businessman,
Mahesh sets out to infiltrate the mafia in order to control the crime
capital and make crime his business venture,. In what is expected to be a
typical Puri handiwork wherein the hero’s characterization is elevated
to demi-god levels.,
Puri has
also ensured entertainment elements are not missed through a renewed
focus on songs picturization and dialogues. Kajal Agarwal, appearing
opposite Mahesh, will be a fresh combination and the teasers and print
publicity material already attest to a good pairing. Shweta Bhardwaj’s
item number Bad Boys will be a rage on screen..
S.
S. Thaman’s tunes are already popular and will increase in popularity
as the audiences flock to the theaters. Aamchi Mumbai is a typical hero
introduction song with words of wisdom such as “har gadi hathkadiyon
me thol”, “rommae viristhe jeena hai, thokae mudisthe marna hai”
“bhayapaduthoo venakadugesthe bathukae khel khatam”. Sir Osthara is the
runaway hit of the album that already has the audiences tapping their
feet. While lyrically not the best, it is Thaman’s tuning and the
simple catchy lyrics that have caught on like wildfire. Pilla Chao is a
remake of the Italian World War II hit song Bella Ciao, sung by
soldiers to the loved ones left behind as they head off for war. Thaman
has cleverly adapted it to the current generation’s tastes and revved
up the tune. It is not often one gets to see Mahesh crooning for his
lady love in the movies, but this is one of those instances after
Dookudu’s Guruvaram and is a welcome change after the umpteen movies
prior to Dookudu wherein there hasn’t been real scope for a solo
romantic track. Chandamama Navve is lyrically the best of the album,
especially “kannullo daachane, kanneerai jaarodde”. A second solo
romantic number for the hero is definitely a surprise for a Mahesh
film. Bad Boyz is a peppy item number portraying the current trends in
society and liberated womens’ desires for their concept of an ideal
match. It’s a world of bikinis, pubs, possessiveness, and general
badness (in a good way). A fun filled number that is easy to hum and
dance to. Businessman (Theme), set to run during the end rolling
credits, is apt for the purpose. Mostly filled with chorus chants, with
a few dialogues from Mahesh Babu and Puri Jagannadh, it is
nevertheless philosophical and hits the right notes.
Shyam
K. Naidu’s photography is expected to be another highlight of the
film. Vijay’s stunts and Dinesh’s choreography, fresh on the heels of
their successful work in Dookudu, are other elements to watch out for,
going by the expectations already generated by the teasers. Puri has
been on record saying one should not expect too many one liners as in
Pokiri even though one liners like “Ilaa round up chesi confuse
cheyyoddu, confusion lo ekkuva kottesthaanu” have become popular, but to
expect more content and gravitas filled dialogues like “Yuddham
chaetha kaanivaade dharmam gurinchi maatlaadathaadu”. Puri’s dialogues
for this film are expected to set the benchmark for future dialogue
writers on how to write dialogues for elevating a heroic character.
Mahesh has already raised expectations sky high on Puri’s strength by
tweeting that Businessman is Puri’s best characterization for a
protagonist and his dialogues are perhaps the best he has written thus
far. The producers have also raised expectations by retaining
distribution rights in almost all major territories.
Releasing
on January 13 worldwide with the highest number of theaters for a
Telugu movie and tremendous pre-release publicity and positive buzz,
Businessman is all set to take in record openings on the back of
Dookudu’s blockbuster turn at the boxoffice. If the premier show word of
mouth spreads positively across the state, then it might be possible
for the movie to collect in its first week the entire collections of a
decent hit Telugu film’s full run. The premier shows and Jan 12 overseas
response will determine whether Mahesh finally puts to rest all
further speculation over the Tollywood Number 1 status. If the movie
has blockbuster media buzz after the first week, then expect the the
Tamil and Malayalam versions, releasing a week later, to also catch
flavour and set Mahesh on the path to becoming South India’s Superstar.
