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Story
Raju hails from a Zamindar lineage but is left with nothing more than a crumbling ancestral house and a reputation for generosity. Determined to become wealthy, he believes the simplest solution is to marry into money. When he discovers that Charulatha (Meenakshi Chaudhary) is the daughter of a rich man, he carefully plans to make her fall in love with him, leading to their marriage. However, an unexpected twist changes everything, and the rest of the film follows how Raju deals with and resolves the situation.
Artists Performance
Naveen Polishetty: The film is largely a one-man show powered by Naveen Polishetty. He ensures the entertainment never dips, delivering laughs at regular intervals. Along with his trademark one-liners, he explores new facets of his performance. For the first time, he takes on full-fledged dance numbers typically associated with star heroes and executes them with ease and confidence. He also convincingly portrays village-style heroism, adding depth to his role. Set against a rural backdrop, the film is likely to help Naveen Polishetty reach a wider audience.
Others: Meenakshi Chaudhary does well as the female lead. Rao Ramesh entertains despite limited screen time, while Tarak Ponnappa is adequate as the antagonist, though the character lacks strong writing. Pammi Sai is effective as a government officer, and Saanve Megghana adds glamour in a special song.
Story - screenplay - direction:
The premise bears similarities to Pilla Zamindar, exploring the idea of a reckless heir seeking redemption. Naveen Polishetty and Chinmayi are involved in shaping the story, dialogues, and screenplay, keeping the narrative light and prioritizing entertainment over depth. While Naveen is well-suited for strong content-driven films with solid entertainment, this outing focuses more on fun than on a tightly written story. Stronger character arcs for the supporting cast could have elevated the drama and tension. That said, the film is clearly designed as a Sankranthi entertainer, and it largely succeeds in that goal.
Other departments: The songs Bhimavaram Balma and Raju Gadi Pelliro are enjoyable. The special song, however, suffers from poor promotion and abrupt placement in the narrative. The background score is serviceable. Yuvraj’s cinematography is pleasing, editing is decent, and N. Gandhi’s production design works well. Sithara Entertainments delivers solid production values.
Analysis: Anaganaga Oka Raju is a village entertainer that puts Naveen Polishetty front and centre. The story takes a back seat as he carries the film with his humour and screen presence. The second half slows down slightly until the emotional stretch before the climax, after which the film ends on a positive note. Overall, it’s a decent festive watch.
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