SOUTHBUZZ

Film: Kanchana
Rating: 3.5/5
Banner: Sri Sai Ganesh Productions
Cast: Lawrence, Lakshmi Rai, Sarath Kumar, Kovai Sarala, Sreeman, and others
Music: S S Thaman
Cinematographer: Vetri
Story, screenplay, direction: Lawrencce
Producer: Bellamkonda Suresh
Release date: 14/07/2011
The multi-talented Lawrence who could not score a hit with the film ‘Muni’ has now arrived with its sequel. This time, he has Lakshmi Rai for glamour and Sarath Kumar for power. Let us see how the film is
Story:
Raghava (Lawrence) is a happy go lucky guy who loves to play cricket but is a chicken at heart. The very mention of the word ghost gives him shivers so much that he sleeps with his mom (Kovai Sarala). He is also in love with Priya (Lakshmi Rai). However, an attempt to play a cricket match in an unused ground leads Raghava to get something dark to his home. The dark spirit begins to cause few weird things at home and one day it enters the body of Raghava which goes on killing few specific people. Who is that evil spirit? Why is it killing few people? Can Raghava get rid of the spirit? All this forms the rest of the story.
Performances:
Lawrence Ragava has come up with a regular performance and as usual, his antics were there. However, he has proved better in direction department this time than his acting.
Lakshmi Rai has sex appeal and oomph factor written all over her and she gives a voluptuous visual feast to the masses through songs and those occasional scenes.
Though Lawrence is the hero, the film truly belongs to Sarath Kumar. Hats off to him for accepting such a role and emoting it with remarkable intensity. He was impressive.
Kovai Sarala was loud and annoying, Devadarshini was okay, Sreeman brought few smiles, Babu Antony was apt, Manobala was moderate. The others did their bit as required.
Highlights

• Second Half
• Horror scenes
• Concept of God vs Devil in climax scene
• Sarath Kumar’s performance
• SS Thaman’s background score

Drawbacks

• Immature comedy
• Unwanted drag in first half
• Screenplay loopholes
• Tinge of ‘Arva Paithyam’

Analysis:
While it doesn’t require much thought to say that Lawrence has a long way to go as a technician or a script doctor, he has shown the ability to be a good storyteller. By infusing a good dose of sentiment and dramatism in the plot, he was able to engage the audience to a great deal. Credit also goes to the background score of Thaman for giving the correct shock effects.
As for Lawrence, his intention was to target the mass audience and he has been fairly successful in his attempt as compared to his prequel by infusing good depth and emotional intensity.
With Bellamkonda’s support, there is no doubt that the film will have enough publicity and the chance of the film scoring a commercial success is high. If only he polished the comedy sequences the film would have created a stronger impact. As such, this flick is not advisable to kids and family audience but the B, C centres might give a good reception.

South actress Kajal Agarwal, who made a blink-n-miss appearance in Aishwarya Rai-starrer Kyun Ho Gaya Na is gearing up for her upcoming movie Singham, and says she is looking for a longer innings in Bollywood while continuing to work in films down South.
“I am here to stay. There have been people who come and go. I would like to believe that I am here for a very long time. And Hindi being my language I am very comfortable with it; I can render my dialogues way more easily. I don’t have to mug up scripts and lyrics, which is a plus point,” said Kajal, who playing the female lead opposite Ajay Devgn.
Kajal had made a small appearance in Boney Kapoor’s Kyun Ho Gaya Na, a romantic film, in 2004.
“I don’t consider Kyun Ho Gaya Na as my debut in Hindi cinema because I barely had one shot in the film. That time acting was not on the agenda I was not serious of taking acting as a full-time profession,” the 26-year-old actress said.
“I will choose the best of what offers I get. I will strike a balance between South and Hindi cinema. I have couple of Hindi films. But I am not supposed to speak about them. I am completing my South films now which is one Telugu film with Mahesh and one Tamil film with Suriya,” Kajal said.
Kajal’s acting career spanning four years, she is already a name to reckon down South.
She has 21 South movies to her credit, majorly worked in Telugu movies and has done a couple of Tamil films as well.
Directed by Rohit Shetty, Singham, an action film, stars Ajay and Kajal in lead roles.
“Singham came my way when I was shooting for a Telegu film of mine in Hyderabad. At that time Rohit had seen my film Magadheera which is a very big Telegu film. He liked me and my role in the film,” Kajal said.
“It is essentially an action film but there is an element of drama, emotion and romance. There is a very sweet angle between Ajay and me. I don’t feel I need to have two hour length or screen space of all three hours to make my presence felt. My character is small but is important and it can’t go miss,” she said.
In Singham, Kajal essays the role of Kavya, Ajay’s love interest.
On her experience of working with co-actor Ajay, Kajal says, he was very helpful and is a very amazing and comfortable person.
“I have always admired his films and his work. As a co-star he is very encouraging and supportive. But he is a big time prankster. I was their favourite victim. Both Rohit and Ajay played lot of pranks on me,” she said.