Movie: NTR Biopic ( Kathanayakudu, Mahanayakudu )
Producer(s): Nandamuri Balakrishna
Cast: Nandamuri Balakrishna, Vidya Balan, Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, Rana Daggubati
Direction: Krish Jagarlamudi
Music: MM Keeravani
NTR ( Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao ) is one name that needs introduction to Telugu people no matter where they live nor their age. The only name in Telugu history that got that unique identity. Whether they hate or like it, the name cannot go without a mention in any person's life. It is one of the rarest name that is blessed to be synonym of Telugu person's identity. As rightly said by Keeravani, people have so much got emotionally connected to this greatest soul that is blessed to live on earth as Telugu person. They identify him as Lord, that even if God show up to the Telugu person, they might reject since God doesn't look like NTR. Whether its Rama or Krishna or matter any God, people believe that they look like NTR. Thats the power of this person and no one in Telugu history can come close to such personality. People who like him can never forget him in their entire life, people who worship him, will worship him for ever.
What he did to get there no one can try to understand, its just the blessings based on his Karma that he was what he was. He became synonym for many many characters which seems to be impossible for any normal human being. Thats what he attained the status in Telugu people's heart. There cannot be another NTR in entire modern Telugu film history.
Making a biopic of such personality can never be possible. What can be shown might be few glimpses of the history which he has been part of. This will be a great uphill task for whoever want to attempt. Balakrishna his one of the able son, thought of this project has been completely dedicated to this project and his association with Krish has been so far outstanding. Krish has a knack of presenting the history in best possible way he can. He always is supported by good technical team as well. The trailer has been appealing, the performances are well received, the dialogs by Burra Sai Madhav and Keeravani on music for sure are good support.
NTR had played different roles in his life, one as Super natural Hero the Kathanayakudu on the film screen and the greatest Leader in politics which is Mahanayakudu. Krish telling these two stories separately is a great thought. Even NTR never mixed up both, so presenting them as separate entities is definitely good choice. Now there can be haters for Mahanayakudu but there cannot be such thing called hating for the Kathanayakudu part of his life. He is for sure the most revered personality of modern Telugu history.
So tribute to him, presenting him on screen is one part and providing music to such personality is another challenge. There is no one other than Keeravani in current Telugu Film Industry can do it effectively. The music reaching and depicting such personality is mere impossible, but even reaching to some level is fine. And the lyrics should be so much powerful that any word depicting him will appear to be less only. Lyrics department had to be really powerful to reach the magnanimity of such personality.
Lets get into the album. This album has 4 songs for Kathanayakudu and 3 songs for Mahanayakudu.. In Kathanayakudu, one of the song has two versions, so it can be said there are 3 each for each version. Lyricists team consists of Keeravani himself, his father Siva Datta, Dr Ramakrishna and Sirivennela garu. They wrote two songs each distributing the songs between themselves.
Regarding singers, I really miss SP Balasubrahmanyam's name in the album as he had contributed so much to NTR. Mainly when SPB can still sing exceptionally well, he should gave got at-least one song, that way even SPB would have got a tribute. However album comes out, this will be a missing point.
Kathanayakudu
1. Kathanayaka
Singer(s): Kailash Kher
Lyrics: K Siva Dutta, Dr, K. Ramakrishna
Can words describe the greatest film personality? Can words explain what he has done as actor, Can a tune make some one understand. Probably yes, probably no.. This song makes a very good attempt of it. Two lyricists combined could do the required. This song is well written to explain the Kathanayaka part of NTR. Based on the characters he portrayed rather lived in them. The words are carefully weaved to depict what an actor NTR was. Given NTR who gave life to many mythological characters, the words tell exactly the same.
The song starts with a nice periodical tune and gets to high voltage. Seeing Kailash Kher name in this song I was little skeptical about his pronunciation and singing, but he did exceptionally well. Its indeed a pleasant surprise. Thanks to Krish, Keeravani for taking care of the song well. As I said for Mahanati, a tribute has to be at a higher level when the personalities are at a higher level. Here this song is really huge and grand. It gives a glance of the career of Legend. Probably fans might get nostalgic and get into tears.The attributes given to NTR in the start of the song who completed more than 300 career films and non-stop successful travel is amazing. The song for sure makes one feel how magnanimous NTR was not by just pure physical appearance but also his perfect appearance in those characters like Rama, Ravana, Karna, Duryodhana, be any mythological character. Also explains how he performed and how spectators could move with those characters. As I said words are very apt to bring the glory of NTR. Jayaho NTR,, Jaya Jayaho NTR will be that the listeners keep saying after the song is complete.
2. Venditera Dora
Singer(s): MM Keeravani
Lyrics: MM Keeravani
A situational song, wrote and sung by Keeravani himself. As mentioned in the song, during the cyclone in the Diviseema where NTR took lead to help the people suffered by the Uppena that ruined many lives. He took Jole and got the funds from people and helped a lot with ANR and other movie actors. His contribution to Diviseema Uppena was quite notable. Probably thats why this made into the movie. As situational song, Keeravani wrote and sung to get the effect. Probably this song sung by either SPB or Yesudas would be a real tribute, but given Keeravani himself a great fan of NTR, he took the opportunity. The plight of the people who got effected is explained in the song. A song will have more impact when seen on the big screen.
3. Bantureeti Koluvu
Singer(s): K.S. Chitra, Srinidhi Tirumala
Lyrics: Sirivennela Seetaramasastry
Starting with Tyagaraya kruti, it turns out to be probably a song for Basava Tarakam, wife of the legend NTR. Even though the first line is from the kruti, sirivennela garu fills the rest of the song with his words. Chitra garu renders it so perfect that we will keep listening to it and would want that it never ends. Keeravani who is expert in modifying the carnatic kruti's, makes sure that when modified the flavor is not missed, and yet appear perfect carnatic kruti. Can we ask more from this song? Sirivennela, Chitra, keeravani,, what a good combination? Added to it Keeravani composed to the core flavor of carnatic music. We wish this song had 2 more charanams.
4. Kathanayaka
Singer(s): Srinidhi Tirumala, Ramya Behara, Mohana Bhogaraju
Lyrics: K Siva Dutta, Dr, K. Ramakrishna
After listening to the first version of Kailash Kher who leaves an impression on to the listeners, this appears a lighter intensity song. Yet this song stands on its own. Song goes so well, that we can hear many versions of this song. Keeravani composes such a way that this song will keep haunting. Even though people while listening cannot see the visuals, they sure can imagine how the song will be on screen. There is such a grandeur in this song. A perfect tribute to the all time great of the movie field.
Mahaanayakudu
1. Ramanna katha
Singer(s): K.S.Chitra, Suneeta
Lyrics: MM Keeravani
Tuned in the style of Lava kusa song, "vinudu vinudu ramayana gaadha", Keeravani tried to explain the life of NTR, focusing on his political career. Somehow I felt this song didnt create that great impact probably after the powerful songs in kathanayakudu. Probably the song goes flat and in simple narrative style. Chitra, Suneeta were not heard with their voice. They get lost like in Chorus. They could have given more to each individually so that they could have got heard. Interlude reminds us of different songs as well. So probably thats why this song leaves us mixed feeling after the song is complete.
2. Chaitanya Ratham
Singer(s): Kalabhairava, Keeravani, Keerti Sagatiya, Sai Shivani
Lyrics: Sirivennela Seetaramasastry
Chaitanya Ratham, the vehicle that NTR traveled across Andhra Pradesh after launching the party where his son Hari Krishna was the driver for the entire tour that lasted for many months. This has been critical phase of NTR's life where he did interact with people and they found him to be their savior. Krish had to use this in his movie without any doubt. Sirivennela infuses the words that had inspired the people and the leader himself. The situation when NTR made the political career was right time and people with open arms embraced him. Sirivennela right says this thru his words. This song probably on screen covers the entire Chaitanya ratham tour of NTR. When this song creates as the impact that the ratham created, probably not. This song depicts various moods probably to depict the same. I hear more pathos than positive energy that people had looking at the ratham. Not knowing the background in the movie might be the reason for me feeling the mismatch. Lets see on the screen. Singers are fine as the tune. The song can be more enjoyed knowing how Krish has picturized this song?
3. Rajarshi
Singer(s): Sarat Santhosh, Mohana Bhargava, Kalabhairava, Keeravani, Srinidhi Tirumala
Lyrics: K Siva Dutta, Dr, K. Ramakrishna
This song starts with Adi Sankaracharya written Atma Shatakam or Nirvana shatakam. But how this is related to NTR is a question to watch in the movie. NTR takes out the regular clothing and choses Kashayam to be the color of his dress when he takes political route. Did Atmashatakam make him to realize and take this route not sure. This song not sure whether has created so impact like the kathanayaka song. Probably the lack of clarity of the song makes one wonder? So many singers sang this song but it didn't create that great impact. But for sure leaves a mystery. A powerful singing would have helped this song, None of the singers could be powerful as they could be. Could be another situational song, might help after seeing it on the screen. The percussion was strong which I guess have helped the song.
Pick(s) of the album: Kathanayaka ( both versions ), bantu reeti, Rajarshi
Making an album for a legends like NTR is extremely difficult, No matter how great it is, it will fall short. I guess the same happened in this album as well, as the expectations would be that it should be the best. Krish definitely has a very good taste and with good technicians in hand, given the situations, he did his best, but leaves some incomplete feeling as it could be a little more better. But if we keep all these aside, its a great effort by the team. The kathanayaka song summarizes the career, the bantureeti song brings in basavatarakam of his life, and the rajarshi outlines the remaining of his life. So indeed the life is said and the summary is given. Now its upto Krish to show the legend once again on the screen and make his fans across the globe revisit him live. Hope and wish he does that.
