Rangabali review: This romcom falls slightly short of becoming a blockbuster for Naga Shaurya

Rangabali is wrapped with commercial touch-ups when you watch the trailer, but the content in the first half is far too promising.

It’s a story about a Shaurya aka Show gadu (Naga Shaurya), an action-centric, attention-seeking chap since childhood at Rangabali centre in Rudravaram village.

He has a select bunch of friends — one among them is Mr Agaadham (Satya) who derives pleasure in hearing pain-inflicted stories of people.

Show gadu falls for Sahaja (Yukti Thareja) a practicing doctor in Visakhapatnam. But her father Murli Sharma wants the protagonist to cut off his connection with the village forever if he has to marry his daughter.

What’s the backstory behind Rangabali? Who is this unsung hero Rangareddy in Rudravaram village? How Shaurya changed the tide in his favour is the story in the latter half.

Related: Naga Shaurya’s clarification on ‘Rangabali’ spoof videos

A laugh riot

Rangabali is not devoid of commercial elements, but the writing has a freshness that neatly transfers onto the screen.

Debutant director Pawan Basamsetti packaged the story as a wholesome entertainer.

Of course, there is a cliched hero-elevation sequence at the very entry of Shaurya that came as a panic attack for viewers. It’s because Telugu audiences got bored of seeing the “commercial hero” swag of Shaurya.

But the mood slowly sets in with the entry of comedian Satya filling the hall with laughter.

The first combination of scenes of Shaurya and Satya makes you laugh almost the entire first hour so much so that you start rooting for Shaurya who has been waiting for a break at the box office. The comedy works big time.

The chemistry between Yukti Thareja and Naga Shaurya works out perfectly. The filmmaker breaks the mould of routine storytelling in the auditorium fight sequence between Noel and Shaurya.

Just after the interval bang, at a moment when you feel actor Naga Shaurya broke the jinx, there is a sudden dip in the story.

The father-son sentiment between Shaurya and Goparaju Ramana should have been kept crisp.

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Also Read: ‘Rudrangi’: Jagapathi Babu shines in this not-so-convincing fiction

Naga Shaurya & Satya win your hearts

Naga Shaurya’s performance as an irresponsible youngster from a middle-class family is perfect. But the film doesn’t properly establish why he loves his village so much.

Comedian Satya is equally brilliant with his timing and mannerism as a sadistic youth who derives happiness listening to the despair of the opposite person.

Yukti Thareja does her portions well as an innocent medical practitioner Sahaja. The chemistry with her love interest Shaurya isn’t too heavy at the same time not too mild as expressions were perfectly portrayed on the screen.

R Sarathkumar’s performance as Rangareddy who vouches for the welfare of the Rudravaram people is good. His stature and screen presence looks aggressive.

Comedians Saptagiri and Brahmaji play a cameo of sorts at the fag end of the second half.

It appears as if Saptagiri’s role is purposefully injected to mock the role of the media while covering the serious issue of MLA’s murder attempt which seemed exaggerated and unrealistic. However, it draws a few laughs.

Shine Tom Chacko’s role as MLA Parasuram is confined to small portions compared to his previous movies. His screen time looks limited and lacked impact while portraying emotions on the screen.

Ananth Sriram’s role as a PA (Personal Assistant) for MLA Parasuram is okay.

Badram, as an RMP doctor, hasn’t found enough space to entertain the audience.

Also Read: ‘Rudramambapuram’ is a good story watered down by poor making

Technical crafts

There’s a perfect semblance in the writing and execution of the script in Rangabali.

The work of cinematographers Divakar Mani and Vamsi Patchipulusu should be appreciated for the visuals.

Pawan Ch’s music is another highlight that stands as a spine for the movie.

Final take

Naga Shaurya and Satya shine in this rom-com action entertainer. However, a slight dip in the second half makes you drowsy. But again, there’s an upsurge in graphs at the pre-climax block.

This perfectly crafted story from Pawan Basamsetti might stay for some time with word-of-mouth talk.

(Views expressed here are personal.)