Badshah (Telugu) Review

Some of the most entertaining times in childhood were story-time with grand-parents. Not that they make up a new story every time the pesky grand-child asks for one. They'll tell you the same old tripe, so much so that you can repeat the lines with them. But it is in the telling that the story takes on new dimensions, and the old becomes as exciting as the new.

Baadshah is one such tale that rises from the ashes of Vytla's done-nearly-to-death tales, and becomes exciting, not only in the telling, but also for the lack of competition. For those who want to know the story, here it is.

Baadshah (NTR Jr.) is the son of Ranjan (Mukesh Rushi), who runs a casino in Macau for international don Sadhu Bhai (Kelly Dorji). A new entrant into the "rangam", as they call it in the movie, Baadshah first impresses Sadhu Bhai with his prowess, and strikes fear into his heart, as the latter realises that the Baadshah means to bring him down. And then, Baadshah is in Milan, wooing the innocent Janaki (Kajal Agarwal) for nefarious gains of his.

Will Baadshah get what he wants? What does he have against Sadhu Bhai except for the fact that he's really bad? And, how exactly do the Hindi-speaking bad guys understand every Telugu word spoken by Baadshah? These questions form the crux of the rest of the story. (No, really. Do think about that last one.)

Been there, seen that, about a million times, right? What's different about Baadshah is... nothing. It is just bloody fun, literally, except when it's not. And, what makes it fun is NTR, whether he's making snide references to his lineage, punctuating his punch-lines with gun-shots, or playing the man with no tongue in his mouth, paraphrasing a well-known Telugu idiom.

The movie's biggest strength lies in its screenplay, and in its seamless dialogue, which, for the most part, does exactly what it sets out to do, whether it is to make you laugh, or push you to the edge of your seat.

Thoroughly seasoned performers, on the other hand, make sure you get exactly what you went for - a very good show. Which you will, except for a few extra-long loo breaks in the first half.

And, then of course, there is the joy of looking at immaculately dressed baddies and goodies (no, that doesn't sound right) pitted against each other in fight sequences as smooth and precise as any well-choreographed ballet.

As is the norm these days, the music is nothing you'll find yourself humming ten years from now. But it serves its purpose.

All in all, Baadshah is solely NTR Jr.'s show, beginning to end. Even if you're not too big a fan, you should give it a try, 'coz the man puts up a bloody good show.