251. Ramabanam; movie review

 

RAMABANAM

Cert 15

139 mins

BBFC advice: Contains violence

"We need to make sure our children eat chemical-free food," insists Gopichand's character in a bizarre courtroom intervention.

And who could argue with the essential point being made via Sriwass's Ramabanam?

A pity, therefore, that it takes two and a half hours of movie stereotypes to get there.

So, I agree with those who have said that Ramabanam has its heart in the right place - a shame that it's only for two minutes.

Otherwise, this is a case of having seen it all before.

Gopichand plays Vicky, a bit of a hothead who runs away from his home village after taking retribution on a local gangster and police officer.

The victim of the duo - his play-it-by-the-book brother (Jagapathi Babu) - is about to hand him in when he darts for a train to Kolkata.

For the next 14 years, he makes a violent mark on the city, carving out his own 'business' while usurping the local mafia.

His family know nothing of his notoriety but he is forced to return home because the parents of his girlfriend (Dimple Hayathi) demand to see them before agreeing to their wedding.

This results in his new life clashing with his old one with very dramatic results.

On the plus side, Ramabanam has some vibrant dance sequences and the relationship between brothers is heart-warming.

But I began to yawn when Vicky sees off 20 thugs at a time in slow-motion fight scenes and when the daft melodramtic music accompanies scenes which don't need it.

And the plot is ruined by the speed at which the film moves from one place to the next.

Ramabanam could have been so much better if it had revolved its heart rather than drifting off into cliches.

Reasons to watch: Frenzied Masala movie

Reasons to avoid: Jumps around too much

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: None 

Overall rating: 4.5/10

Did you know? Gopichand is the younger son of the filmmaker T. Krishna and was only eight years old when his father died.

The final word. Gopichand: "Emotional drama between brothers is the core element of Rama Banam. When I heard the story, I got connected to that emotion as a viewer but not as a hero." 123 Telugu

Lokasi: Beeston, Nottingham NG9, UK

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