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There seems to be more eccentricity than sense in the film
directed by Pavan Kalyan. He also plays the title role of
Johnny.
Only two issues surface in the drama - Johnny's wife suffers
from blood cancer and he goes about raising money for treatment,
by taking part in kickboxing bouts and inevitably winning
them. Pavan tries to exhibit a Bruce Lee temper, but with
a sad face as poverty haunts him from his childhood. Quite
a bit of cinematic element has gone in displaying a lanky
hero flooring dozens of skilled men, obviously under the protection
of the film director that is himself. The art director in
him is revealed through his shot taking skills. But the commercial
element and art element making don't go together. The basic
weakness in his own story line lies in leaving many ends loose,
especially the role of Johnny's father (Raghuvaran).
The film opens showing Johnny's father ill-treating his wife
(Geetha) and son creating a gloomy atmosphere, which continues
throughout. Raghuvaran plays an uncaring businessman-father.
What Johnny gets as a legacy from his parents is a piece of
brocade on which his mother embroidered his name. And this
piece of cloth is either on his head, on the knee or in his
forehand and palm.
The film covers just three phases of Johnny's life - his brief
childhood, his sojourn in a reckless world that sharpened
his martial art skills and his post-martial life. Pavan gives
more importance to detailed expression and reactions, which
just lengthen the scenes. After separation from his father
in the first reel, Johnny returns again to him almost towards
the end of the film, seeking monetary help for his wife's
treatment. But a woman, who occupied his mother's place after
the latter's death, successfully thwarts her husband from
parting with his money. The son quietly walks out.
The father's role is absent in the rest of the drama. The
illegal bouts with the mafia overtake the sensitive drama,
providing a bit of Hollywood atmosphere. These bouts with
hardcore fighters are quite prolonged to vexing levels. One
Tsui, summoned from Hong Kong, is a fight composer. The rest
of the mechanical drama depicts Johnny defeating his rivals,
picking up prize money, which is used in the treatment of
his wife. The film runs to almost three hours. It can easily
be edited to increase the momentum. Pavan's clumsy and bewildering
looks add to the monotony. The loud music makes the dialogue
incomprehensible. The songs rendered by Pavan Kalyan have
no impact.
courtesy:
The Hindu
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