Movie : BUSINESSMAN
Rating: 3.25/5
Cast : Mahesh Babu, Kajal Agarwal, Prakash Raj, Nasser, Sayaji Shinde, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam and others
Directed by : Puri Jagannadh
Produced by : Dr. Venkat
Banner : RR Movie Makers
Music : SS Thaman
Release Date : 2012-01-13
Mahesh Babu's Businessman flags off this Pongal season and this year as well for movie fans. His previous film Dookudu was a tremendous hit and it was released less than four months ago. Even before that blockbuster feeling sink into the fans, the Superstar is back with Businessman. This time the man who wielded the megaphone has left wonderful memories to Mahesh and his fans with his last film that he worked with the Prince. After sensational Pokiri, Puri has teamed up with Mahesh again and the expectations were expectedly over the moon. The makers made sure that they make the more out of this curiosity and craze and planned the release in a never before way. So, did Businessman live up to the hype and euphoria? Let's find the answers in the review...
Story:
An ordinary thirty plus guy enters Mumbai with a dream to become underworld don of the city. His name is Surya (Mahesh). He is extremely confident and as powerful as a superhero. He immediately starts off his mission to become the Bhai and he does it even before you study his strategy. He takes the help of a local politician (Sayaji Shinde) and operates his anti social works by recruiting jobless goons. After he conquers the city he expands his 'business' to all over India. In between there is a small romantic tale with Chitra (Kajal).
Performances:
Businessman is Mahesh Babu's show all the way. He has done a terrific job in making Surya Bhai character lovable. Despite having negative shades, Surya character entertains with his doesn't care a hoot attitude. The character is unbelievably fearless, extremely over confident and stupidly romantic. Mahesh Babu makes it lively and believable with wonderful body language. The subtle changes in the dialog delivery worked big time. He dances like Salman Khan, who does few simple yet striking steps. Mahesh Babu is certainly going to the next level as an actor.
Kajal is awkward with her weird makeup and silly hair styles. Most of the characters she has done in the past are of village belle roles. Maybe she suits those roles better. On the acting front she is alright.
Seniors like Prakash Raj, Sayaji Shinde, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam and Nasser did their parts very well. There aren't any comedians in this movie. Puri Jagannadh did a blink and miss role.
Technicalities:
Technically the film is sound. Saying so, there aren't any experiments from Puri's side. It is a standard Puri Jagannadh film with some flashy editing and slick cinematography. Thaman's music is good. More than three songs are good on screen and are placed well. Background score is nice.
Puri Jagannadh excelled as the dialog writer. There are many dialogs for which one would clap and whistle unknowingly. The dialogues are raw yet philosophical. There are ample cuss words in the movie and all are mouthed by the protagonist. Most of those were beeped and few are intentionally muted. However, you will know what he was saying.
As a director, Puri faltered. The process of hero turning into don is very cinematic and completely lacks logic. There isn't a single scene in which the director's brilliance is seen. Puri banked on Mahesh Babu and dialogues and left the director behind. Everything in the film is forced. Director took everything for granted in the mask of commercial entertainment. Even the screenplay is weak. We can easily identify that there isn't enough work done on the writing table.
Analysis:
As we told earlier, this film is one man show from Mahesh Babu. Only the dialog writer in Puri backed him a bit. If not for Mahesh, Businessman would have ended up as an absolute dud. Mahesh is the saving grace of this film with his inarguable stardom and charisma. First hour of the film is racy and entertaining. Things get boring in the second hour and the screenplay goes awry in the climax and pre climax scenes.
Mahesh fans would be satisfied with the final product as they get to see Mahesh in almost every frame and in full blown energy. Mahesh talks all the time and most of those lines are entertaining. If we look for logics and purpose, Businessman will surely disappoint, but if you keep your logical thinking cells off, you might get two hours of mindless entertainment.
Comparisons are ought to come with Mahesh's previous film Dookudu which is still afresh in the audience's memory. So will Businessman match up to it? Certainly no! Due to lack of universal appeal this film falls well short of Dookudu. That was a wholesome family entertainer with so much time put into the script. Whereas, Businessman is nothing but cashing on Mahesh Babu's craze with adult entertainment.
Collections will be definitely good and it may break some records until the initial hype subdues. Also the fate of this film will depend upon the verdict of Bodyguard that is releasing tomorrow. Thanks to the huge release, Businessman should be in safe zone within no time. You won't mind watching this film especially because of Mahesh. However, repeat value is not guaranteed for regular audience. Fans would love it to the core though.
In one word: Businessman is 'Spicy'
