Victory Review

Victory is based on an idea that affects just about every other individual in the city, and for that alone it gets one whole star in the rating.

A story focusing on land mafia and the problems encountered by the common man makes for a potentially good movie. Sadly, the director does not stick to this core, and tries to spice up the proceedings by adding comic interludes, showcasing the hero's brawn, and the customary song and dance rituals. The result: an apology of a movie with a diluted impact, giving an impression of dissipation.

Vijay (Nitin) aspires to become a police officer, and is more interested in his career than love or marriage. His father (Tanikella Bharani) is hell-bent on marrying him off soon, and on chancing upon Janaki (Mamata Mohandas) in a matrimonial website, decides to get him to tie the knot. Janaki meets Vijay and falls in love with him, and tries to coax him or coerce him to reciprocate her love.

Meanwhile, Devraj (Ashutosh Rana), an MLA with a history of land grabbing, covets a vast plot of land - of which a piece belongs to Vijay's father. Vijay, with the help of his friends Ravi (Shashank) and Sindhu (Sindhu Tholani), tries to bring about unity amongst the people whose land is appropriated to fight against Devraj. The rest of the story focuses on whether he succeeds in his mission.

Wait a minute. It should have focussed on whether Vijay succeeds in his mission, and how. What it does instead is intersperse the scenes related to the main plot with a half-baked romance and irritating comedy, and the movie rambles on.

The main problem with Victory began at its inception - its screenplay. Most of the scenes lack continuity, and the mood and the tone of the film keep vacillating. The movie keeps on talking up "guts" and how it is the most important asset of a man. We just wish that the director had shown some of it and made a gritty message-oriented movie; which, considering the dearth of such intelligent films, would have made for engrossing viewing.

Nitin performs credibly, but needs to work on his body language and diction. Mamata Mohandas' role is that of a glamour doll, and all she has to do is go around looking coquettish. She does it with aplomb, in spite of looking a tad too mature to make a good pairing with Nitin.

Of the others, Ashutosh Rana steals the show with his mannerisms, conveying the menace and religiosity of the character effectively. Sindhu Tholani (in a deglamorized role), Shashank, Ravi Babu and Tanikella Bharani are adequate. Brahmandam and Ali are yoked together in a comic sub-plot, and are funny yet exasperating, due to the poor placement of their scenes.

The music, except for the theme song, is jarring, and strictly pedestrian. The dialogues alternate between being thought-provoking and witty. The editing is notable for being absent. In fact, the movie would do well do delete a couple of misplaced songs, to make it a bit crisper.

However, that might be too little and too late. Unless you are a fan of Nitin and are willing to drool over his well-sculpted body, keep away from this slip-shod flick.