Starring: Chiranjeevi, Ram Charan Teja, Pooja Hegde, Sonu Sood, Jisshu Sengupta,Tanikella Bharani
Director: Koratala Siva
Producers: Ram Charan Teja, Niranjan Reddy, Anvesh Reddy
Music Director: Mani Sharma
Cinematography : Tirru
Editor: Naveen Nooli

iQlik Movies Rating: 2/5

Megastar Chiranjeevi's much-awaited film Acharya had hit the screens today. Directed by Koratala Siva, this action drama featured Ram Charan and Pooja Hegde in the other key roles. Here is the review of it.

Story:
Dharmasthali is a temple town that is in the clutches of the evil lord Basava (Sonu Sood). What used to be a pilgrimage once upon a time, has now become a center of atrocities due to Basava. To save the town and its villagers from Basava, Acharya (Chiranjeevi) enters the scene. Who is Acharya? What is his connection with Dharmasthali? What does he have to do with Siddha (Ram Charan)? These factors form the main crux of the film.

Performances:
This is the weakest work of Chiranjeevi after his comeback. People expect certain things from Chiru's films and this movie doesn't have any of them. Even his grace couldn't save it. Ram Charan looks fit in his role. His chemistry with Chiru was excellent but the scenes were badly written.

Pooja Hegde got a role that is of no use. A forgettable film for her. Sonu Sood is regular as a baddie. Jisshu Sengupta is becoming repetitive in these kinds of roles. Rest others have nothing much to do in the proceedings.

Technical Aspects:
Director Koratala, who also wrote the story, came up with his weakest work yet. There is no strong conflict in the film and the screenplay is haywire. Scenes don't have any purpose and bore audiences to death. The narration is slower than the pace of a snail.

The cinematography by Thiru was excellent and so was the production design. Mani Sharma's songs are below-par but the background score is decent. The production values are great. The editing by Navin Nooli was sub-par.

Analysis:
Koratala used an age-old template for Acharya. If he added the commercial elements in the right way, it would be successful. But he missed the track in narration. Right from the beginning to the end, the narration is very slow. There is no importance for Pooja Hegde's role. There was no need for an item song. The Naxalite track was poorly written. Characters and scenes come in their own comfort. On the whole, Acharya is a complete mess and a total misfire. The first half is slow. The second half is better than the first half but that doesn't mean it is good. A forgettable venture for Megastar and Mega fans.

Plus Points
Cinematography
Chiru and Charan's chemistry

Minus Points
Screenplay
Music
Plotline
Characterizations

One Line Verdict: Acharya is a sleeping pill!