A debate ensues when one poses the question if star kids have it easy. Star sons, daughters, nephews and nieces argue that while they do get a foothold to enter the industry, the onus is on them to prove their worth when up against all the comparisons. Those who rough it out without a godfather cite how tough it is to get that foothold . Aatadukundam Raa is like a case in point to show how much lineage matters.
With a tagline ‘just chill’, this film rides on just another dated storyline. A successful businessman counts on his loyal friend in all his endeavours. A scheming nemesis pulls a small trick to bring the empire down and create an irreparable rift between the friends. A generation later, what happens is anyone’s guess. A hero arrives, assuming a different identity, and sets things right. A dash of bava-maradalu romance, some comedy of errors, song and dance and you get a film that’s considered a safe bet.
Sushanth is the hero who wants to bring together old friends Murali Sharma and Anand. He falls in love with the former’s daughter (Sonam Bajwa) and turns the tables on the villain.
How does one infuse some energy into this old tale? This team thinks of a time machine and calls it Aditya 469 (Poor old Aditya 369 ). Brahmanandam is the scapegoat who’s made to believe he can revisit the 1960s or fast forward to 2050. Time travel gives the narrative the scope to leverage on classics featuring Akkineni Nageswara Rao. Brahmi believes that he’s met ANR’s elder sister and predicts that Mooga Manasulu will be a blockbuster. He also lists other silver/golden jubilees ANR is likely to have. Moving ahead to 1980, ANR’s supposed sister is pleased with his predictions and gifts Annapurna 7 acres to Brahmi. Stepping out of time machine, Brahmi considers taking over the property only to get slapped by Chaitanya (in a cameo).
The film unabashedly tries to cash in on established names from Rajamouli to Mahesh, ANR to Nagarjuna. Prudhvi and Posani do what they usually do — the former trying his hand at spoofs and role playing, the latter talking in rhyming lines that don’t make sense.
The cocktail of family legacy and time travel plods on until in the end, Posani and group sing ‘Ninnu choosi choosi…’ from Akhil’s Akhil . Oh wait, whose film did we watch, Sushanth’s or Akhil’s?
Couldn’t they have narrated the story without leaning so much on cameos and family references? What appeal will a film that doesn’t believe in itself have among its audience?
A remix of ANR’s ‘Palleku Podam’ ( Devadasu ) features in the name of novelty. Classics are best left untouched.
Rather than stepping into this time machine, watch some old hits of ANR or Nagarjuna.
Aatadukundam Raa
Cast : Sushanth, Sonam Bajwa, Brahmanandam
Direction : G. Nageswar Reddy
Music : Anup Rubens
Rating : 1.
