It has been four years since Allari Naresh delivered a hit. With more than half a dozen flops, the actor’s prime task should have been to take a break and wait for the right subject instead of courageously releasing another film that hardly guarantees a result.
Agreed it would be really tough to better Sudigadu, which was the ultimate in spoofs; but that is where the skill of a director and an actor’s precocity in judging a script is put to test. Selfie Raja by Eshwar Reddy looks like a movie made in a hurry, inspired by a selfie concept. The director might have thought about a selfie first and then wove a film around it. Even then had he embellished it with a good screenplay, it would have made sense.
Instead what you see in Selfie Raja is a desperation to fill every scene and dialogue with gags. Extra ZabardasthGrand MastiSelfie Raja No complaints there but actors like Allari Naresh are loved by children and even with a U/A certification, it gets a tad uncomfortable to watch the movie. The film has a dual role by Allari Naresh. The first one, Raja is addicted to taking selfies, posting it on his FB, most of which land him in trouble. He also has a ‘plain heart and a loose tongue’ that acts as a catalyst, pushing his wife to dump him.
An upset Raja wants to end his life and hires the services of a contract killer who in turn brings in another look alike with a financial agenda. The director’s job is to converge these two characters at a point and create mayhem but this is where he fails. The film goes off track and to sustain interest, a host of comedians are brought in and given separate tracks. There is a deaf couple that overdoes its bit. Shakalaka Shankar steals the show as a snake charmer who christens his snake ‘Seshu Babu’ that worked in many hit movies; ‘Babu’ refuses to go to TANA and ATA due to non-availability of dates. Even this reptile succumbs to profanity.
The heroines just groove and are given only a handful of dialogues. Dialogues are funny, but there is a deliberate effort to fill it even when there is no space. The songs and dances are pleasant.
Naresh is flawless but what’s the point?
Selfie Raja
Cast : Allari Naresh, Kangana
Music : Sai Kartheek
Direction : Eshwar Reddy
Genre : Comedy
Rating : 2
Published - July 15, 2016 04:54 pm IST
