If there is one feel-good element about this film, it is the fact that once you start watching the movie, you do not tend to feel it is a dubbed version of the Tamil original. A well-made film which excels in the dubbing department, well taken care of by Ghantasala Ratna Kumar, it serves as the best lesson to display how well one can dub a film. Replacing the original language with Telugu in signboards, nameplates and newspapers is a relief to note, unlike in other dubbed films where such aspects are left out. The backdrop of mosques and tombs makes the audience feel that the film has been shot in the city.

Add to this the technical, thematic and scenic quality, A.R. Rahman's attractive music score, Selvaraj's laudable photography and Sai Suresh's editing skills which make the visuals sharp and rich. However, the film's title in Telugu sounds old fashioned and does not reflect the intensity of the subject or its purpose.

And, the film speaks volumes about Arjun's directorial skills. He is racy both in his narration and in portraying the crucial role of ACP Parasuram. The theme is loosely based on how the innocent, helpless, educated and unemployed youngsters become vulnerable in the hands of terrorists who use them as human bombs. It is a brief story with plenty of situational and action drama. Dialogue is its strength, especially those lines written for Arjun's role. Akash, a terrorist, meticulously plans and executes subversion by brainwashing the disillusioned youth, Siva (Abbas) being one among them. Siva works against the government and the police as he strongly believes that the cops murdered his brother. It is now the turn of ACP Parasuram to set the record straight.

Anjali (Kiran Rathod) and Meena (Gayatri Raghuram) lose their heart for the brave police officer. While the former admires him silently, the latter comes under his protection as there is a threat to her life. Parasuram helps Siva's mother, a widow, to regain their wealth and perform her daughter's marriage. How things change, and whether the cop succeeds in reforming the misguided youngsters are reserved for the end. The duel between Parasuram and Akash towards the end is a thrilling spectacle.

Arjun as Parasuram looks dignified. It looks as though a lot of research went into the creation of this character right at the scripting stage. The major roles of Akash, Parasuram and Siva are the ones that haunt us post-theatre too with their performances, while the leading ladies - Gayatri Raghuram and Kiran Rathod - are relegated to the background. Vaddepalli Krishna transliterated the songs impressively.

courtesy: The Hindu