KUNAL GAURAV

Fabulous movie good story actor played their role in effortless Magadheera' isn't as slick or smooth as the 'Baahubali' movies, which its director, SS Rajamouli, would go on to direct six years later. The editing doesn't have that quality, and as far as the lead actor Kajal Aggarwal's character goes, she's as bad as Ginny Weasley in 'Deathly Hallows: Part 2'. The fight sequences, too, are far from believable. FFS, you have the hero trying to board a chopper by jumping from the roof of a building! And I doubt whether anyone can fall 20,000 feet from the skies into a lake and live to literally tell the tale. Yet, there's something earnest about 'Magadheera,' which revolves around the reincarnation of star-crossed medieval-era lovers, played by Aggarwal and Ram Charan, in the 21st century. The overall experience keeps you hooked and engaged, minus the urge for loo breaks. Though, I admit, I prefer the first half, set in the contemporary age, over the second. The intersection of the two eras keeps things engrossing while highlighting the actors' range. Interestingly, it isn't just the lovers who are reincarnated. The villain and an important ally meet the same fate. This development spices up things even more. Performance-wise, I liked Srihari's the most. Ram Charan was good, too, but he overacted in a few places. Ditto for Aggarwal. Dev Gill could have been more menacing. Overall, 'Magadheera' works if over-the-top action is your thing. If you're a true-blue realist, it's better to skip this one. Though, the sets and visuals are sure to stun you anyway.