Shivaji Review

The career graph of Srihari has been on an upward trend ever since he turned a hero. And there seems to be no stopping him, especially with his stock-in-trade dialogue writer, Posani Krishna Murali, churning out stories and dialogues in a prolific manner. From Police to Shivaji, they have tasted success continuously. This, despite the fact that low-budget films are bombing at the box-office.

Srihari, who has donned the role of a police officer in most of his heroic ventures, takes on a different garb in Shivaji. A physical education director (or rather "drill master" as they call him) in a college, his prime occupation is not bashing up goons (it is secondary for a change), but preserving his integrity and character. Floored by his phenomenal character, Raasi falls for him.

But unfavorable circumstances don?t allow them to marry. So, Raasi marries Prakash Raj, a lecturer in the same college. An aware Prakash Raj starts shooting venomous arrows at his wife. Not stopping at that, he spreads word in the colony that his wife has an affair with Srihari and that she works in shifts in pleasing them.

A burning-with-rage Prakash Raj also becomes instrumental in ruining the marriage of Srihari?s sister. So the fuming hero, who is bothered about his character more than with his sister?s plight or with that of his grieving girlfriend, tells Prakash Raj to proclaim, to the colonywallahs, the truth. Prakash Raj refuses and so our hero settles in his house as the second husband ? or rather keep ? of Raasi with the active support of the latter, who is vexed with her husband.

Obviously, they teach Prakash Raj a lesson and make him realize his mistake. But not before Prakash Raj delivers a 15-minute monologue about how he is blinded because of his being an orphan. Srihari delivers a subdued performance as Shivaji, while Prakash Raj excels as the suspicious husband. Raasi too does well in this sentimental drama.

Kovai Sarala, L B Sriram and Brahmanandam provide some laughs. After the phenomenal performance that he essayed in Chaala Bagundi, the audience expected some comic relief from Sriram, but he disappoints. Anyway, the film is worth watching if you are an admirer of Srihari.