2016 Telugu films of big stars that were a letdown

While there are other films this year, that were worse than some of the films on this list, these films are the ones that disappointed me the most due to the high expectations everyone had before their release.

1. Brahmotsavam – I have no idea where to start about this film, except that it takes the cake for the most disappointing film this year. The only thing Brahmotsavam succeeded in doing is ruin SVSC for most people. It made everyone realize how void of content SVSC was too, which is sad because I was one of those people who loved SVSC.
2. Sardar Gabbar Singh – The less we speak about this film the better. But just one word of advice to Pawan Kalyan and the people writing scripts for him, comedy does not mean making him or those around him act gay. You guys have beaten this to death. It wasn’t funny in the beginning and it isn’t funny now. As for the film, it was way too predictable and boring. I hope Pawan Kalyan realizes that it is best for him to stick to acting and leave the writing to the actual writers.
3. Sarrainodu – In spite of watching the movie knowing that it is a mass masala film, Sarrainodu is a huge letdown. It is neither funny nor impressive. Even the punch dialogues in the film are bland and routine. Allu Arjun is like a Hulk / Terminator smashing people left and right, making the action sequences a pain to watch. Even the songs in the film are a disaster. As someone who enjoys Allu Arjun films, I was really very disappointed with this one.
4. Nanaku Prematho – With the exception of the title track, everything in this film is a letdown. The film had lost me in the very first half-hour, when Abhiram talks to a mixed crowd in Telugu in London, and then follows it up by hiring a British girl and talking to her in Telugu. I really hate films that takes its audience for granted. While the film had potential, it failed to connect with the audience because of the many cinematic liberties taken, making the story unconvincing. Additionally for a film that talks so much about emotion, it would have been nice if the writer spent a little more time on his script to help evoke that emotion in us, so we could route for Abhiram in his quest for both love and revenge.
5. Soggade Chinninayana – This film may have been a decent watch if not for the fact, that it was declared as a must see film for the Millennials who are so caught up in their tech world that they do not have time for those around them. The way the film was praised for dealing with the most important issue of our times, I was really looking forward to this film, but what I found instead was a twisted-sexist solution, for a failing marriage. While the marriage is falling apart because the husband is inattentive to his wife, the solution ends up being the husband flirting with a bunch of women to make the wife jealous and go back to him. The way the film justified flirting, is the stupidest thing I  ever saw. I have seen innocent flirting, but what is depicted in the film is anything but innocent. Equally creepy is the ghost of the dad entering his son’s body to give a kick-start to his romance. The only good thing about this film is watching Ramyakrishna and Nagarjuna together as wife and husband, they were adorable.
6. Janatha Garage -This was another promising film that ended up being a bit of a letdown. Having heard so much about it being a film that raises awareness regarding the environment, I was expecting a film that would shed light on this most important issue plaguing our earth, instead what I saw was another Godfather type film, (but without all the bad stuff). While the film did touch on the topic of environmental awareness in the beginning, it was conveniently forgotten as soon as Anand takes over the reigns as a Godfather. Though the film is a decent watch, I just wish the writers had taken more care when penning the character and story. For the viewers of this generation, who are more aware of everything, something as simple as talking to the fishermen in Mumbai in Telugu, or an environmental activist driving bikes and cars, is enough to ruin a film.

Nani – A Superstar in the making?

With three back to back hits and one more ready for release, Nani is on a roll this year. From a village coward, to a billionaire businessman, an aspiring entrepreneur, and a love-struck guy, he slipped into the shoes of each character with such ease, delivering a flawless performance every single time, that I can’t help but wonder if this is the beginning of a Superstar in the making. In fact, everything about Nani reminds me of Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) twenty years ago. Like SRK, Nani is an outsider who not only found his way into the industry, but also managed to create a unique space for himself. Just like the Badshah, Nani also has the amazing gift of touching your heart, every time he romances an actress on-screen. In fact he is so good, that he is redefining romance in Telugu cinema, one movie at a time. While neither of them were the quintessential movie heroes when they debuted, both SRK and Nani won over the audience with their  passion for the craft, charming good looks, dimpled smiles, and incredible talent.

Whether Nani becomes a superstar like SRK or not, only time will tell. But looking at the way things are going, he is already on the path to becoming one of the most loved, and admired actors in the industry. It is only a matter of time before he wins everyone over.