Poor script derails 'Badrinath' (Telugu movie review)

Film: Badrinath; Cast: Allu Arjun, Tamanna, Prakash Raj, Kelly Dorjee, Ashwini Kalsekar, Brahmanandam, Krishna Bhagawan and others; Producer: Allu Arvind; Director: V.V.Vinayak; Story; Chinni Krishna; Camera: Ravi Verman; Music: Keervani; Art Director: Anand Sai; Rating: **

Allu Arjun is a really talented actor. But his home production 'Badrinath' - made with a whopping Rs. 35 crore and with the best of the technicians in the Telugu film industry - is a dampener.

It is a colossal attempt with a nonsensical storyline and a boring narration. This film is another big let down from Arjun after 'Varudu' and 'Vedam'.

The technical team has done a superb job, but the main fault of the film lies in its hackneyed and boneless script. Ravi Varman's camera work, the sets designed by Anand Sai and even the music by maestro Keervani stand apart in this film. The technical standards of the film are really high.

But the storyline is utterly ridiculous and the screenplay totally inconsistent.

Badri, who stays in the Badrinath shrine, is a follower of a guru, Bheeshma Narayana, who has adopted him from his childhood to train him to be a Kshethra Palaka, a protector of shrines. Enters Alakananda, an athiest, who has to inevitably come to Badrinath to fulfill her sick grandfather's wishes. Badrinath infuses religious beliefs in Alakananda. Alaka loves Badri which is unknown to him.

Later, the guru calls Badri's parents to seek their approval to make the young warrior as his successor which also needs the young man to practice celibacy. This is also unknown to Badri. Finally when the villains try to take away Alakananda forcibly from the shrine, Badri saves the temple and also his lover. Even the guru realises that 'love is supreme.'

The weak climax sequence ends abruptly mainly because of chopping off of many action portions by the Censor Board which saw the film twice to certify it for 'Adults only'.

The comedy portions have been added as an afterthought and it becomes apparent that the script writer has just rehashed the comedy sequences from mega star Chiranjeevi's blockbuster 'Indra'. Even established comedy artists like Brahmanandam and Dharmavarapu fail to bring in the much needed laughs.

Allu Arjun as usual is excellent in his dances and fights, but the script does not offer him any opportunity to emote. Tamanna, who has been quite liberal in her sex appeal, looks bubbly on screen in songs and some sequences. Prakash Raj as usual is a perfect choice for the role of the guru. His voice is the main attraction. The villain's group has lesser screen space, but it is Ashwini Kalsekar who shines in her role.

Despite the strength in technical department, the much awaited 'Badrinath' fails to make an impact on the audience. The only reason is Chinni Krishna's illogical story and a bad screenplay.

Watch 'Badrinath' if you want to see Arjun's dances and Tamanna's looks.