Meena Starring VENGAMAMBA (2009) Telugu Movie Review

Film: VENGAMAMBA

Rating: 3/5

Banner: V M C Films

Cast: Meena, Sarath Babu, Saikiran, Sana, Subbaraya Sarma, Ashok Rao, Ananth, Sudha, Sivaparvathy, Ranganath, Sriram and others

Music: M M Keeravani

Cinematography: P R K Raju

Director: Uday Bhaskar

Producer: Doraiswamy Raju

Release Date: July 17, 2009

Story:

A holy tale, the story begins on the backdrop of Tarigonda with the life of Vengamamba (meena) who is the darling daughter of Krishnaiah (sarath Babu) and Mangamamba (sudha). However, their dreams of seeing their daughter married does not help as right from childhood, she is into the trance of lord Venkateswara (sai kiran). She gets married to Venkata Chalapathy of Injeti family. However, he dies due to a snake bite. From then on, Vengamamba gets into a complete service to the god and begins to write songs and various poems on the lord. She has her own form of obstructions in the form of Kainkaryam (ananth), Dikshitulu (ashok rao) but then divine help is always there to assist her pious heart. A chance sequence takes her to Tirumala and what happens from there forms the rest of the story.

Presentation:

The director has come up with a neat storyline and both the presentation and narrative were good. The dialogues were simple, the script was written without much flaws and the screenplay was sensible. Music played a key role and it did well while cinematography was neat. Graphics were excellent. The make up department could have been better since the puffing up was a bit on the higher side. Also, the art department should have brought more authentic feel to it. Editing was crisp. Costumes were apt. meena did a fabulous job and showed enough maturity in her role. Saikiran and Sana were the perfect choices. Saikiran has shown good potential, Sarath Babu was elegant, Subbaraya Sarma was impressive, Ananth was good, L B Sriram was okay. The others did their bit and contributed.

Conclusion:

The film has been a take on the real life story of the famous Vengamamba of Tarigonda. The makers have taken an authentic touch to it and while the first half revolves around her childhood to her younger days, the second half goes about with her divine journey and spiritual awareness. The film has got some real good technical effects and with some decent performances by the cast, it was neat. The film will surely appeal to the family audience and those who are interested in divine flicks. Maybe few learning points for the youth and the mass audience as well. This will be a decent run at the box office with some positive word of mouth.

Bharatstudent Verdict : Divine and neat, recommended

SARAT BABU

Actor Sarath Babu has played a variety of roles in the past 28 years. Many of these got him awards and rewards and the actor is still going strong. He has acted with some of the best-known directors in the industry and is looking to perform meatier roles in the years to come. Sarath Babu talks about his experience in the industry and intentions for the future.

While at college, I wanted to be a police officer. When I was doing my final year I had to wear glasses and the dream was shattered. My friends goaded me try my hand in films. Entering filmdom was a cakewalk for me. May be that was what the Almighty had decided for me.

After finishing college, I went to a function where I saw the giants of the silver screen — K. Balachander and Singeetham Srinivasa Rao. There I think K.B. saw me. He asked Singeetham whether he knew me. Director Rao called me and introduced me to K.B. sir.

He asked me whether I was interested in acting. I said yes. He asked me to come to his office the very next day. I was given a role in the film `Nizhal Nijamagirathu'.

The first shot was at Hyderabad. I was not nervous, as I knew that I was safe in the hands of K.B. sir. After that, I acted in some of his best films such as `Nool Veli'.

I have done nearly 200 films in all the South Indian languages and a couple of films in Hindi and one in English.

In these, Telugu and Tamil films share nearly 80 films each and 20 plus in Kannada and a few in Malayalam and two in Hindi.

I just finished an English film `Waking Dreams' and the film is to be released in November at the New York International film festival and then later in India.

It is centred around two families, one Indian and other American. I am the only actor from India and I represent the Indian family and all other actors are from the U.S. An Indian named Deepika is the director.

The film has come out well and I am waiting for its Indian release.

My grandchildren can watch all my movies. But I would like them to watch the best among the lot - `Nool Veli', `Mullum Malarum', `Udiripookal', `Salangai Oli' and `Amirthavarshini' (Kannada).

When the film `Nenjathai Killathe' went for the National awards, Hrishikesh Mukerjee was the chairman of the awards committee. I got a letter from him saying I missed the supporting actor award by a whisker. For me, that was the biggest award. I have also received eight `Nandi' awards from the Andhra Pradesh Government for best actor and supporting actor. I cherish these awards. I was shooting for a bilingual film in Rajamundry. K. Balachander came to Chennai to edit `Nool Veli'. When he returned, he patted me on the shoulders and said I had done my character in the best possible way and he mentioned a particular scene where he said my performance was excellent. That was more than an Oscar award for me.

I feel I was blessed in getting different roles in different languages. I like Sivaji Ganesan, S.V. Rangarao, Sanjeev Kumar, M.R. Radha and Savithri.

Apart from acting, I would like to do some other work in filmmaking. I may try my hand at direction and production. But that too only after five years. Till then I feel I am only a director's actor.
Sarathbabu

Filmography

Actor:

1. Waking Dreams (2008/II) (completed) .... Dr. Kumar
2. Shankardada Zindabad (2007)
3. Rocky: The Rebel (2006) .... Rocky's father
4. Asthram (2006)
5. Evandoi Srivaru (2006) .... Master
6. Sri Ramadasu (2006) .... Bhadrudu
7. Kalvanin Kadhali (2005) (as Sarath Babu)
8. Gajendra (2004)
9. Shock (2004) .... Dr. Rajan
10. Arul (2004)
11. Swethanagu (2004) .... Professor
12. Ninney Ishta Paddaanu (2003)
13. Kasthuriman (2003)
14. Istam (2001) .... Chakravarthy
15. Daddy (2001/I)
16. Annayya (2000) .... Rangarao
17. Akkada Abbai Ikkada Ammayi (1996) .... Vishnu Murthy
18. Suryaputrulu (1996)
19. Sisindri (1995)
20. Ghatotkachudu (1995) .... Koteswara Rao
21. Muthu (1995) .... Zamindar
22. Hello Brother (1994)
23. Ankuram (1993)
24. Aapathbandavudu (1992) .... Sripathi
25. Annamalai (1992) .... Ashok
26. Vadinagari Gajulu (1992)
27. Chettu Kinda Pleader (1989) .... Gopalakrishna
28. Kokila (1989)
29. Bava Marudula Sawal (1988)
30. Chinni Krishnudu (1988)
31. Dabbevariki Chedu (1987)
32. Samsaaram Oka Chadarangam (1987)
33. Velaikkaaran (1987)
34. Kalyana Thamboolam (1986)
35. Muddula Manavaraalu (1986)
36. Anveshana (1985) .... James
37. Pagal Nilavu (1985) .... Peter
38. Swathi (1985)
39. Swathi Muthyam (1985)
40. Sagara Sangamam (1983) .... Ragupathy
41. Sitaara (1983) .... Sitaara's Brother
42. YamaKinkarudu (1982) .... Kishore
43. Pelleedu Pillalu (1982) .... Durga's husband
44. 47 Natkal (1981)
45. Radha Kalyanam (1981) .... Dr. Anand
46. Seethakoka Chilaka (1981) .... David
47. Idi Kathakaadu (1979)
48. Tayaramma Bangarayya (1979)
49. Guppedu Manasu (1979)
50. Ninaithale Inikkum (1979) .... Guest
51. Utharipookal (1979) .... Prakash
52. Maro Charithra (1978)
53. Mullum Malarum (1978) .... Kumaran
54. Stree (1973)