Director: Trivikram Srinivas
Lead Actors: Mahesh Babu, Sreeleela, Ramya Krishna, Meenakshi Chaudhary
Supporting Cast: Jagapathi Babu, Sunil, Rao Ramesh, Rahul Ravindran, Jayaram, Prakash Raj, Easwari Rao, Murali Sharma, Vennela Kishore

Summary:

"Guntur Kaaram," film released on January 12, 2024, under the direction of Trivikram Srinivas, endeavors to blend emotional family drama with mass entertainment, featuring Mahesh Babu as Venkata Ramana Reddy. The storyline revolves around familial discord, political ambitions, and the strained mother-son relationship. Despite moments of raw emotion and intense sequences, the film grapples with a predictable plot and uninspiring character portrayals.

Likes and Dislikes:

A standout moment in "Guntur Kaaram" occurs when Venkata Ramana Reddy reflects on his perceived value as a son after causing chaos in his family's estate. Mahesh Babu delivers a sincere performance, maintaining the momentum he showcased in his previous outing, "Sarkaru Vaari Paata." However, the film's narrative fails to leverage his acting prowess, resulting in a tedious and unremarkable progression of events.

Trivikram Srinivas brings together a stellar cast, including accomplished actors like Jagapathi Babu, Sunil, Rao Ramesh, and Rahul Ravindran. Unfortunately, the characters assigned to them lack depth and fail to make a lasting impact. The film's attempt to merge emotional family elements with mass entertainment falls short, creating a pale amalgamation reminiscent of Trivikram's previous successes like "Atharintiki Daaredi" and "Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo."

Noteworthy Performances:

Mahesh Babu's earnest portrayal of Venkata Ramana Reddy stands out as one of the film's redeeming qualities. However, the supporting cast, despite their acting prowess, is hampered by uninspired character sketches. Ramya Krishna, portraying Vasundhara, manages to add depth to her scenes with Mahesh Babu, yet her potential remains underutilized.

Among the supporting actors, Jayaram's character, Satyam, fails to evoke the intended pathos due to limited screen time. Prakash Raj, as Venkataswamy, delivers a predictable and one-dimensional performance, diminishing the impact of the anticipated face-off with Mahesh Babu.

The leading women, Sreeleela and Meenakshi Chaudhary, unfortunately find themselves relegated to forgettable roles. Sreeleela, despite occasional lively dance sequences, contributes minimally to the plot, while Meenakshi Chaudhary's character serves a stereotypical purpose without much substance.

Verdict:

"Guntur Kaaram" falls short of the expectations set by Trivikram Srinivas and Mahesh Babu's previous collaborations like "Athadu" and "Khaleja." Despite Mahesh Babu's dedicated performance and a few emotionally charged scenes, the film succumbs to a mundane narrative lacking innovation, failing to offer a fresh perspective on the family drama genre. The clash between Mahesh Babu and Prakash Raj, a hallmark of Telugu cinema, feels lackluster, with the latter's character suffering from predictability and age-inappropriate dialogues.

The perpetually brown-tinged visuals and unremarkable action sequences contribute further to the overall tedium. While an improvement over Trivikram's previous venture, "Agnyaathavaasi," "Guntur Kaaram" fails to warrant celebration. It struggles to break free from clichés and provide a compelling cinematic experience.

Rating: 3/5 Stars