Dated but worth the time

What makes the lead actors take a romantic script even in their 50s is no credit to a social order that accepts middle-age romance. It is the fan following. It is in this context that creditable mention be made of Venkatesh. He has moved from the “song and dance’’ stereotype to the guy who romances but within the parameters of the age his face reflects.

Films like ‘Drishyam’ and ‘Gopala Gopala’ reflect an intelligent career move. It also suggests that a good artiste is one who necessarily thinks out his art. Venkatesh has surely moved on. This in the backdrop of a cinema vitiated by inertia is no mean achievement. The film predictably is star-centric or to be more accurate committed to the star in Venkatesh. It is designed to inform the audience and reassure his fan club that he has not lost his charisma or his pulse reading skill sets to age.

Krishna ACP (Venkatesh) is a police officer. Oh! He has done it so many times as have most other heroes. No he is now the officer with a difference. He is not the ‘don’t angry me’ type. He is the ‘don’t weep me’ paradigm with the heart of gold. He sets out to woo Sailaja (Nayantara) who is being blackmailed and threatened by the ill kept baddies at the instance of Mayoral aspirant and 50 killings Mallesh Yadav (Sampath).

While Sailaja of multi siblings fame has also grandma (Sowcar Janaki) and mom in addition to feed, she also has to keep them away from the threat of the bad guys who are on the lookout for her dad Sastri (Jayaprakash) who has incriminating evidence against Mallesh and MLA Keshava (Posani Krishna Murali). Vying with Krishna for attention of the catering Sailaja is Batayyi Babji (Prudhvi). Assisting the ACP are a gang of comedy and space filling group (Brahmaji, Venu Tillu, Raghu and Vennela Kishore).

The build up to the romance is laboriously lengthy. The conflict and clash between Krishna and MLA Keshava is the humour line and the punch conflict is with Big Bad Mallesh. This part lacks punch, notwithstanding the multi punch no holds bar delivery by ACP. While veterans like Posani, Sampath, Sowcar Janaki deliver without fuss, players in the comedy track essential to the script and the larger style of the narrative do not go overboard. This is crucial to the film. Surely Prudhvi in the sweet lime role has a juicy if not meaty presence and does full justice as does Vennela Kishore. After a long while we have Brahmanandam as Magic Mangamma doing justice to his presence and repute and not reducing his outing to a predictable farce.

Nayantara is the gloss element. Elegantly attired (special mention be made of her wardrobe as of Venkatesh in his linen shirts – except his red pants!). She keeps her screen dignity in place and teams well with Venkatesh. She chooses her costumes and accessories with grace and taste. To reiterate, the film belongs to Venkatesh. And does he deliver! First a caveat: I am a Venkatesh fan. Here is script that drenches him in his strengths. With multiple songs referring to Venkatesha and also as Babu Bangaram, he grows on you as you may hum: Chustuna, chustuna. The film is yet another instance where thematically it seems to suggest that a law abiding police officer is a systemic anachronism.

The cop with the heart in the right place gets the applause that the vegetable eating tiger is now thirsting for blood. Fortunately Venkatesh (and here lies the great success) adds humour rather than gore and muscle to the character. This keeps the film in the light entertainer mode throughout. He never goes overboard. Never under delivers. Conscious of his star position, he neither takes his feet of the peddle nor does he overstep. If only the Dadasaheb patriarch was around he would surely have said: Babu, Bangaram.

Film Name : Babu Bangaram
Cast : Venkatesh, Nayantara, Posani Krishna Murali, Sampath and Prudhvi
Direction : Maruthi
Genre : Comedy-action
Likes : Venky and humour
Dislikes : 156 minutes