Mahanati Review

Mahanati

The sky is the limit for possibilities when Mahanati was announced by the then budding director Nag Ashwin. It is his dream project he said. He also added that he wanted to make this epic biographical drama after gaining considerable experience. But dreams come true in unexpected ways. 

Nag Ashwin was given the chance to pull his dream off into the reality by the Dutt Sisters Swapna and Priyanka. Stars aligned in such a way that sincere attempts never go out of sync with the audience and Mahanati gained traction with even the staunchest of Savitri fans from yesteryear. 

Doubts cropped up when the relatively inexperienced Keerthy Suresh was cast as the Mahanati. Nithya Menen seemed to have missed a golden opportunity. Nag Ashwin saw Keerthy as the perfect choice for portraying the beloved Savitri and convinced almost everyone with the first look and teaser. Thus, Mahanati happened with a highly talented ensemble cast. The audience were transported into a bygone era fondly remembered. 

The doubts about the way the movie will pan out are allayed right from the first frame. Calling Mahanati a celebration of Savitri’s life would be an understatement. Samantha joined the party as Madhuravani a journalist who unearths various aspects of Savitri's life and Vijay Devarakonda is a perfect foil for her.

How the story unfolded

Now we have to talk about how this movie is unfolded because that is what makes or breaks films like these. Madhuravani, perfectly portrayed by Samantha, is a fledgling journalist in the early 1980s. She was tasked with the finding the reasons behind legendary actress Savitri's condition at the time, she was in the coma. Vijay Devarakonda as Vijay Anthony joins Madhuravani in finding out various aspects of the life of the Mahanati. 

Madhuravaani goes from place to place and person to person. She encounters comments like her generation knows nothing about Savitri other than the fact that she was once a great film star. The same holds true for this generation too. Hence, Mahanati is as important for the current generation as it is for the generation of the 1980s. We watch the life of Savitri through the lenses of Madhuravani and it delights us and saddens us equally well to know the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows of the favourite actress of Teluguland. 

The artists

Keerthy Suresh might have stepped on an old fox or such is her luck to play the role of the greatest actress of all time arguably. She blasted all the doubts about her portraying a fascinating character as Savitri by not only resembling her in appearance but also her persona. We have to talk about the biopic of the great Charlie Chaplin by Richard Attenborough here. 

The Gandhi director Attenborough cast Robert Downey Jr. as the legend Chaplin. A hot-headed youngster at the time and relatively inexperienced owned the character of Chaplin in such a way that even Chaplin's granddaughter couldn't stop the tears of appreciation for the actor. The makers even risked showing Downey's portrayal of Chaplin and Chaplin's footage side by side towards the end. Such was Robert Downey Jr.'s performance. 

Now, coming to Keerthy Suresh, she breathed life into Savitri on the screen. Like Ganga became Chandramukhi (the comparison may be forgiven) she became Savitri. Her work in this movie has a tremendous scope and she had done justice to every inch of it. 

Next, we have to talk about Dulquer Salmaan. Boy, what an actor he is! Savitri married Gemini Ganeshan recreated in a terrific manner by Dulquer Salmaan. He became the Kaadhal Mannan of Tamil Cinema. His chemistry with Savitri, I mean Keerthy Suresh took the movie to the next level. Hw is a natural. This Malayali duo portrayed the legends of Telugu and Tamil Cinema like never before. Its a treat to watch them through their good, bad, and the ugly memories.

Samantha, one of the biggest stars of South Indian Cinema relegated herself delightfully to a back seat as the journalist who delivers us the story of Savitri, Madhuravani. Interestingly, Madhuravani is a character played by Savitri in the movie Kanyasulkam. Samantha has time and again proved herself to be the actress of the generation even with the slightest chances, and she nailed the character is an understatement. Vijay Devarakonda as Vijay Anthony who helps Madhuravani unfold the story of Savitri is fantabulous. 

Senior actor Nata Kireeti Rajendra Prasad is a value addition to Mahanati. He did justice to the role of Savitri's uncle who brought her up during her childhood and the early part of her career. No words can describe the feeling when we watch him on the big screen. Shalini Pandey as the friend of Savitri, Susheela, is superb. 

Legions of film technicians like Krish Jagarlamudi, Sandeep Reddy Vanga, Srinivas Avasarala, and actors who are legends on their own right like Mohan Babu (as S. V. Ranga Rao), Prakash Raj (as Chakrapani, we have to say his styling was a bit odd, to be frank), Bhanupriya all took part in creating history and made even the simplest of the cameos memorable. 

The dreamer Nag Ashwin

Nag Ashwin should be patted repeatedly for conceiving such an ambitious project. It is his dream venture aptly supported by the producers who brought heaven to the earth in making this beautiful film. He narrated this story in an objective way. He never took sides and visualised what's there for the most part. He had shown the highs and the lows of the legendary actress in this sprawling movie. He took the old timers on a nostalgic trip and introduced to the newcomers a top class actress with aplomb.

Gem of a cinematographer Dani 

The cinematographer Dani Sanchez-Lopez must be appreciated for his work. Brilliant is a small word for him. We have to create a new word for describing his colour palettes, framing, and lighting. As he discussed in an interview, Dani lifted the movie's atmosphere on his shoulders. Deserves a national award. He is the find of the decade. This Spanish cinematographer showed the difference in various time frames in the movie in an apt manner. 

The other technicians 

Mickey J. Meyer's songs are great to listen and elevated to the next level by the lyrics of Sastry duo (Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry penned four songs while Ramajogayya Sastry provided the lyrics for one song). The background score is soothing. Editing by the experienced hand Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao is good. There are no unnecessary jerks and the transitions are done well. All the scenes that might bore a certain section of audience don't need trimming as they are necessary.

Production values by Swapna Cinema and Vyjayanthi movies are grand. Every penny was well spent. The art department did a commendable job. This is the fourth greatest work in 2018 by a movie's art director. 

No words, just go and watch it

On a whole, Mahanati is a fitting tribute to the legendary Savitri. The first half is a breeze of fresh air with Savitri's highs and her love story with Gemini Ganeshan. The second half is deep with emotions and her downfall. Whatever the situation, the director handled it very very well. Just go and watch the movie. You won't be disappointed even with high expectations.