Maharshi Review: Farmers don’t need our Sympathy, They need our Respect (Rating: ****)

Film: Maharshi

Language: Telugu

Cast: Mahesh Babu, Pooja Hegde, Allari Naresh, Jagapathi Babu, Prakash Raj, Jayasudha, Posani Krishna Murali, Meenakshi Dixit, Prudhvi Raj, Brahmaji, Vennela Kishore

Director: Vamsi Paidipally

Rating: 4.0

Reviewed By: SOCIALNEWS.XYZ

Story: Maharshi is the journey of a middle-class guy Rishi who becomes the most successful man in the world and gives it all up for his friend. So why did he gave up all for his friend and how did he solve his friend's problem forms crux of the story.

Acting: Mahesh Babu will be seen in 2 different shades in this movie. Mahesh Babu as college student Rishi is fun and vintage and brings back memories of his Dookudu and Pokiri. His comedy timing is impeccable. Mahesh Babu as CEO Rishi Kumar has a lot of emotions which he carried it well. Allari Naresh as Ravi and friend of Rishi gets a good role. He did a commendable and one will see a different Allari Naresh in this movie. Pooja Hedge did well in the limited screen presence she got. She good scenes in the first half but has a limited role in the second half.  Prakash Raj and Jayasudha are adequate parents of Rishi.  Jagapathi Babu once again gets a good role as the main antagonist which he carried with ease. Posani Krishna Murali, Prudhvi Raj, and Vennela Kishore are used for comic relief and did well. Sai Kumar and Tanikella Bharani gets key roles but have very short screen presence. Rajiv Kanakala got a good role and he used it well. Bramaji has a blink and miss role. Kaikala Satyanarayana and Kota Srinivas Rao appear in guest roles. Its fun to see them on the screen after a long time.

Technical: Director Vamsi Paidipally did a flawless job in the first half of the movie. He executed the college episodes and the emotional scenes between father and son very well. In the second half, the story writer in him killed the momentum of the movie. He tied to incorporate too many problems of today's Indian villages. This at times makes it a tedious watch for commercial move lovers. If the second half was handled well it would have succeeded commercially too. Story by Vamsi Paidipally, Hari, Ahishor Solomon is very good. The journey of Rishi is flawless. The dialogues in the movie should get a special mention. They are a lot of dialogues that will haunt you even after you leave the theaters. Devi Sri Prasad music is OK in the songs but gave a good Background score. The cinematography by K. U. Mohanan is flawless. He brought a very rich look to the film. The flights by Ram-Laxman should also get a special mention. All the fights in the movie came out really well. Production by Dil Raju, C. Ashwini Dutt, Prasad V. Potluri is rich. Every penny spent on the movie can be seen on the screen.

Analysis: Vamsi Paidipally and his team must be appreciated for sticking to a genuine story. It touches all the problems that the farmers are facing in today's society. Mahesh Babu should be commended for accepting a story like this. This movie may not get him any records but should make him proud for doing a story like this. The first half of the movie is fun and one can watch vintage Mahesh Babu. The second half is where most of the story happens but one may feel it little tedious and at times preachy. The movie touches on various topics like villages are being evacuated for corporate greed, farmer suicides and how a farmer is no longer respected in society. The movie tries to show some solutions to the problems of farming communities.  The movie teaches us that "Farmers don't need our Sympathy. They need our respect."

If movies like these are not appreciated no star will ever dare to do movies with good concepts. We will be stuck with routine formula movies.

Highlights:
Mahesh Babu
Story
College Episodes
Philosophy
Comedy
Dialogues

Drawbacks:
Slow Narration
Screenplay in the second half
Preachy at times

Box office: The movie will have an uphill task at the box office. Only Mahesh Babu's star power should make it an average grosser.

Verdict: Watch if you want to learn where your next meal comes from.

Bottom Line: Farmers don't need our Sympathy. They need our respect. (Farmer is the King).

Note: The rating is based on the content of the movie but not the commerciality of the movie. Some movies may not run well but they will haunt you.