Victory

Cast: Nitin, Mamatha Mohandass, Shashank, Sindhu Tholani, Duvvasi Mohan, Ashutosh Rana, Allari Ravibabu, Satya Prakash, Ravi Kondala Rao, Supreeth, Ajay, Tanikella Bharani, Sana, M.S. Narayana, Brahmanandam, Ali, Abhinayasri, Nuthan Prasad, etc.

Dialogues: Ravi C. Kumar, Kaluva Krishna Sai
Art: B. Venkateshwara Rao
Costumes: K. Prasad
Camera: Vijay C. Kumar
Screenplay: Ravi C. Kumar
Choreography: Swarna, Shankar, Noble
Music Director: Chakri
Lyrics: Chandrabose, Kaluva Krishna Sai
Fights: Ram-Laxman
Editing: K.V. Krishna Reddy
Co-Producer: V. Suresh Reddy
Presenter: K. Atchi Reddy
Co-Director: Ramanatha Reddy
Producer: Venkat
Banner: R.R. Movie Makers
Story, Screenplay, Direction: Ravi C. Kumar

What's it all about?

The tagline "We for Victory" tells a lot of the story itself! Land mafia, Land grabbing, contemporary politics that plays with the middle-class people, corrupt government officials and elected leaders, local goons - all these on one side, and the hero and his friends pitted on the other, and you have Victory. In short, Vijay Chandra (Nithin) is a strong, daring youth of a middle-class family (Tanikella Bharani & Sana) that wants to join the police force (and that explains his 8-pack body). Local MLA Devaraj (Ashutosh Rana) is also a land grabber who eyes plots in Seetharam Nagar, located 50 km away from the HITEC City!

These plots were originally given away by a Gandhiian freedom fighter Pingali Venkataramayya (Ravi Kondala Rao), because the latter firmly believes that land, air, and water belong to everyone and no one should try to own them. Hero's family being one among the original owners, the hero tries in vain to bring unity among people to fight against the MLA. Will his friends Ravi (Shashank), Satyam (Duvvasi Mohan), Sindhu (Sindhu Tholani), etc.) help him fight the battle or leave him as a lone warrior? How can he motivate them against fear of facing the wrath of the baddies?

Performances

Cast:
Nitin built up his body as required for the character that gets into action as and when necessary. His dance in the first song
is done with ease, and his performance is good but not great! He still needs to work on his diction some more. Mamatha Mohandas has a role that's not strongly connected to the story, as Janaki who's supposed to marry Nithin. She looks good on the screen and has the right performance too, but her role is largely wasted. Sindhu Tholani appears as a TV5 reporter that cares to see a better society. Her performance is okay, though in a limited role. Shashank is good in a boy-next-door kind of role, who helps execute the protagonist's plans. Duvvasi Mohan gets an important role as one of the two friends of the hero, and he does offer some relief through his role.

Ashutosh Rana has his usual ease in the role of a politician turned goon. Among the comedians, M.S. Narayana gets a role similar to that of Prakash Raj's in Premaku Velaayeraa...! (Remember Prakash Raj-Brahmanandam episodes?) His character is rightly etched to suit the theme of the movie, and he does a good job presenting it too.Brahmanandam-Ali episode was intended to give some comedic relief while showing current scenario of corruption in government offices, but Abhinayasri's inclusion was unncessary.

Krishna Bhagawan, who's always appreciated for his timing and satirical comedy, has hardly any dialogues in the film, and is thus wasted! Tanikella Bharani did well as the protagonist's dad who also helps him fight the battle, and Sana did her part well too. Ravibabu, as the MLA's advocate, is used more as a comedian than a villain's yes-man. The rest of the cast is adequate.

Technical Departments:

The story revolves around contemporary issues and daily news that concerns each one of us - the common public. Such thought-provoking stories laced around current social affairs are required to be made as movies, and the director should be appreciated for sticking to the same genre after Samanyudu. However, the screenplay could have been a lot tighter and without discontinuities. The first half moves at a relaxed pace without even touching the actual story nearly half-way through the first half! However, the interval bang maintains the curiosity of the audience, and the second pace moves through real story.

While the first half seems wasted, the second half has songs that were quite unnecessary for the movie's flow. On the whole too, song placement is bad. And, some of the songs didn't require dances by the hero, you'd feel when you listen to the lyrics, but he's made to dance in all songs except the theme song in the background! Choreography was good for the first song. However, the picturization of the song prEmanEdi... is innovative.

Dialogues are aptly written for this movie that makes you think, with sprinkles of comedy here and there. Fights are just okay. Camera work is quite impressive. Music is adequate, but doesn't seem a good fit for the lyrics. Re-recording leaves a lot to expect. Editing is okay. Title graphics need a special mention, and the director should be appreciated for the idea of using newspapers, according to the theme of the movie. The hero's gym trainer is also credited, as a token of thanks for showcasing Nithin as the first 8-pack hero in Telugu. Voice-over Jagapathi Babu was limited.

Impressive Scenes/Dialogues:

* Nithin to Bharani: mee meeda oTTu! Bharani to Sana: osE, nee boTTu!
* Shashank: Tiffin lEka okaDu EDustunTE tip kOsam inkODu EDchinaTTundi!
* Nithin: Gandhi gaaru mahaatmuDu endukayyaarO ippuDu arthamaindi! kOTla mandiO unity elaa teesukocchaarO!
* Nithin: ivaaLa prajallO unity raavaalanTE galliikO Gandhi raavali, sir!
* Shashank: Daivadheenam anna need pErukii, nuvvu chEsE panulakii Emainaa sambandham undaa?
Krishna Bhagawan: paanDavula peddannayya Dharmaraju ani pEru peTTukuni joodam aaDalaa? idee antE!

Bottom Line:
The film is supposed to be a thought-provoking movie on the whole, and it succeeds in being one. If you're looking for a movie that has a story around current affairs and political games played around people, this movie is for you. It doesn't have much commercial elements or comedy.