Directed by: Harish Shankar
Produced by: Ram Achanta, Gopichand Achanta
Banner: 14 Reels Plus
Original Story: Karthik Subbaraj
Cast: Varun Tej, Atharvaa, Pooja Hegde, Mrinalini Ravi
Music by: Mickey J. Meyer
Cinematography: Ayananka Bose
Edited by: Chota K Prasad
Release date: 20 September 2019
Run time: 172 minutes

iQlikMovies Rating: 2/5

After the disastrous Sahoo and a poor runner Gang Leader, Telugu audience is awaiting a blockbuster like iSmart Shankar. Many expectations were pinned on Varun Tej's Valmiki (later changed to Gaddalakonda Ganesh) by film lovers.

This remake of award-winning Tamil film Jigarthanda (2014) hasn't spruced up much as per director Harish Shankar. The atmosphere or the ambiance, as seen in the trailer, is not in sync with Telugu terrain. The only pull factor for young audience is Varun Tej and for senior audience, it is the remix song 'Elluvochchi Godaramma...'. Let us see how it performed on screen.

Story:
This is story of an aspiring film director Abhilash (Atharva) who wishes to make a film based on a real time gangster Gaddalakonda Ganesh (Varun Tej). After a series of events the director happens to go to do a recce along with his friend. When he tells his idea of making a film Ganesh gets pleased. He also assumes that his image will go up when his story appears on big screen. Ganesh acts as himself in the film. What happens next forms rest of the story.

Performances:
Except for Varun Tej, none of the lead actors is popular in this film. Varun Tej, who has been doing soft looking roles from a quite long time has done a rough bearded role now. He did total justice to his job.

Atharva and Mrinalini are new faces. Pooja Hegde's role in short lived and comes only in the flashback episode of 2nd half. 1st half is ok but the 2nd half tests the patience with the snailing screenplay, though comedy part worked well.

Technical Aspects:
The first half revolves around Ganesh and his lifestyle while Abhilash secretly developing his film story. Comedy at times makes you laugh but consistency is missing. Dialogues and cinematography are good. The screenplay is not intact.

The much hyped remix of "Elluvochchi Godaramma" in comparison with the yesteryear's Sridevi- Sobhan Babu starer is inferior. Pooja Hegde fails to match the grace of Sridevi through tried her bit to hold the audience with her moves. But this can be called a sigh of relief as the rest of the film made the audience restless at many times.

Plus Points:
Varun Tej
Comedy in parts

Minus Points:
Screenplay
Flashback
Tamil flavor
Sentimental climax

Conclusion:
For Telugu audience, the plotline resembles something close to that of RGV's KSD Appalaraju where Brahmanandam, a don, wants to be the lyricist cum producer for Sunil's directorial debut. The only difference is Varun Tej here wants to play the lead in Atharva's directorial debut.

Keeping that aside, the 2 minute trailer itself spoke volumes about the film. There was no hooking factor in any aspect. It is needless to say that the best of the shots or dialogues will be showcased in the trailer of any film. So, when the so called best in this trailer hasn't appeared to be good, the rest is predictable. Despite watching the film with the lowest possible expectation, it fails to engage.

It was originally made in Tamil with a low budget though decently made 3 times to that of investment. But when the same story drives to invest big on a big hero and a big director, it proves to be a fingers crossed situation. It's only the star image of Varun Tej that should pull the fate of this film to positive side.

Final Verdict: Not up to expectations