Balayya takes on dad’s mantle
NTR mesmerized hoards of people with his matchless getups as Lord Rama and Krishna. The impression remains so profound that even today, a Telugu man is prone to imagine NTR (in such roles) when he is to think of the specified gods. Now, it is the turn of Balakrishna to venture into the full-fledged role of Lord Krishna. He has also got into the shoes of his dad as Bhaktha. For this purpose, Balayya arrived on the sets with a clean-shaven glittering expression. Those days, NTR used to follow certain strict self-imposed rules while doing sacred mythological roles – like No to Non-Veg and Luxury life. Balayya too follows through some such reservations, though not penance-like. KRR produces and directs this film Panduranga, more or less readied on the lines of NTR’s blockbuster Panduranga Mahatyam. While Sneha is selected one among the two lead heroines, four others are already there as side-rung heroines. JK Bharavi has to show his mettle with meticulous research traversing the streets of Pandaripuram in Maharashtra. MM Keeravani scores beats for 12 lyrics.