Friday Feb 29 2008, Hyderabad

Idhee Sangathi thrilling indeed

Directed by - Chandra Siddarth

Produced by - Chandra Siddarth

Music by - John P Varky

Casts - Tabu, Abbas, Raja, Sunil, Hema,Kota Srinivasa Rao, Surya, MS Narayana, Raja Ravindra, Chalapathi Rao, Brahmaji and others.

Banner - Filmotsav

 Director Chandra Siddarth, who made films like Aa Naluguru, Madhumasam, and Appudappudu, tried his hand at suspense thriller with Idhee Sangati, he adopts a novel (Mera Bharat Mahan) written by KNY Pathanjali on to the screen. Chandra Siddarth scores in presenting the film in style but his screenplay in the second half seems predictable.Despite the sensuous publicity with Tabu ruling the roost, the film gives the audience a dull and boring fare. The story is about a guy named as Satya Murthy (Abbas) and his wife Swarajyam (Tabu) and their greediness.Murthy is a corrupted crime reporter with a popular daily.

One day, a train accident (Mumbai Express) happens in the city and Murthy and his photographer (Sunil) reach to cover the tragedy.Instead of doing their job, they loot the gold ornaments and the other belongings of the dead passengers in the accident.Satya Murthy lifts a suitcase which contains diamonds worth Rs.500 Crore.Without knowing its value, he just hides the treasure box beneath the bed.

And the diamonds belong to Prime Minister of India who hails from Andhra Pradesh.The police are now on the hunt for the diamonds.His greedy wife Swarajyam (Tabu) breaks the suitcase and takes possession of the diamonds.She bluffs to the hubby that nothing valuable is there.When she makes an attempt to buy Rs.

1 Crore worth Car and a Rs.5 Crore worth building.She is exposed.  The rest of the film is how police, thieves, lawyers, and politicians indulge in heinous acts to grab the diamonds to their own. Tabu looked beautiful from the start to finish.

As a middle class house wife prone to temptations, Tabu rendered superb performance.Director Chandra Siddarth has clearly banked on Tabu's glamour, showing her in the best and classic shades of expose.         Abbas, who paired up with Tabu after Prema Desam, did a neat job as crime reporter.His mannerisms are natural.Kota Srinivasa Rao as Prime Minister, while MS Narayana did his personal Manager, Sunil as photographer, Surya as greedy police officer and Brahmaji in the role of a lawyer have done justice to their characters.

Raja makes guest appearance as Kalavar King, leader of thieves.He also shakes legs for a song with a glamorous dancer.  Music by newcomer George P Varki and Gummadi jayakrishna's camera work are praiseworthy.The picturing of two songs - one shot on Raja and the other on Tabu and Abbas - are eye-catching and imaginatively shot.The plot line has potential to become an interesting expose but it is not handled well in the second half.

The first half is average with some small scenes of comedy, but the second half turns monotonous with an abrupt and weak climax.