Rating: ** (***** Very Good, **** Good, *** Fair, ** Average, * Bad)
Cast: Nitin, Kajal, Nagababu, Jayasudha, Raghuvaran, Narsing Yadav, Jayalalitha, Raviprakash, Chalapati Rao, Narra, Sivaprasad, Amit, Venumadhav, Mumait Khan and Others.
Action: Ram-Laxman.
Art: Babjee.
Cinematography: Jawahar Reddy.
Editing: Baswa Paidireddy.
Music: Chakri.
Story, Screenplay & Direction: AS Ravikumar Chowdary.
Presenter: Rekha Combines.
Producer(s): C. Kalyan-S. Vijayanand.
Banner: Teja Cinema.
Release Date: 20th March, 2008.
Aatadista has an inconsistent script, mediocre direction and absolutely no novelty. Nitin concentrates on his dancing skills and nothing else. Kajal has little to do and she has definitely done better work, both in terms of her character and the movie itself. The main negative character played by Sivaprasad has nothing new to offer apart from a marchpast walk. The music is nothing to write home about and the movie itself is very disappointing.
Plot:
Jagan alias Chinna is industrialist Lion Rajendra’s jobless son. He falls in love with Sunanda. Meanwhile he suggests that his father and his rival Raghunath get into a partnership to double up their efficiency. Without his knowledge his marriage is fixed to Raghunath’s daughter, who obviously turns out to be Sunanda, but the families are not on great terms even after they fix the match. Raghunath is dealing in tobacco businesses that is actually owned by Bonala Shankar, a brusque and notorious MLA. Rajendra doesn’t want to deal in that area, but Bonala threatens the board of directors too. Now Jagan has to deal with this corrupt politico and plays a game with him that shakes him from his very roots-spreads a rumor that he hit Shankar.
Story, Screenplay and Direction:
The story is pretty erratic. First Jagan alias Chinna is after Sunanda, pursuing her in a roughish manner. Suddenly he starts pretending to be a nice guy, bashing up his friend who eve-teases her hostel girls just to impress her. Then suddenly the track is neglected only to re-appear before the break to give that ‘interval punch’. The main villain is Sivaprasad as Bonala Shankar, a ruthless tobacco producer cum MLA who bashes up public and media who protest against his companies and his party president for questioning him. Then in the second half, when Nitin ‘plays’ with him, it is not that convincing.
The interval punch is amusing, even if for a short while. The track with Shankar’s son and Sunanda’s friend is a yawn. The inconsistency of the script is consistent. A brief period in the second half, when the actual ‘Aata’ is on between Chinna and Shankar is watchable, but not novel.
The ending is very abrupt. The editing and cinematography are average. Choreography seems repetitive. The fun part in the movie, or indeed any watchable part, lasts roughly about 20 minutes if that.
Performances:
Nitin’s focus on dance puts him at a disadvantage. He needs to work on his dialogue delivery (Slow Down!!!) and voice modulation.
Kajal has little to do, and makes faces throughout-she’s done better work than this. Sivaprasad as Shankar fits the part well, has a good presence and a well-written character to portray. Nagababu is okay as is Jayasudha who plays his wife. Raghuvaran, people shall miss his uniqueness forever but thankfully it’s captured on many a canvas.
Song and Dance: Middling and repetitive to the core. Mumait’s Item number is alright though.
Last Word: Same old, same old. Yawn!
Our Verdict : A passable entertainer, can be watched if there is nothing worthwhile to do.
