Thursday Apr 03 2008, Hyderabad

Jalsa falls short of expectations

Directed by - Trivikram Srinivas

Produced by - Allu Aravind

Music by - Devi Sri prasad

Casts - Pawan Kalyan, Illeana, Kamalinee, Mukherjee, Parvathi Melton, Prakash Raj, Mukesh Rushi, Brahmanandam, Sunil, Ali and others.

Banner - Geeta Arts

Pawan Kalyan, the original style icon of Telugu and the writer-director Trivikram Srinivas, are expected to create a magic with the most-anticipated film, Jalsa.Their unique combination along with the glamorous heroine Illeana and the big banner that produced the film had created a lot of buzz for some time now.The movie begins with Mahesh Babu narrating the story.Sanjay Sahu (Pawan Kalyan) hails from a poor rural family of a remote village in Karimnagar district.His brother dies of heart disease as a child.

His father commits suicide as crops fail and his mother too is no more soon.While going to burial ground, he repeatedly slips and swoons at a stone pillar.He plucks it out, which enrages the henchmen of a land-grabber Damodar Reddy (Mukesh Rishi).He disappears into a forest and joins the Naxalites.During a combing operation, Sahu and a police officer (Prakash Raj) meet each other and become good companions under strange circumstances.

Sahu comes to Hyderabad and duly rehabilitated as a college student.Sanjay Sahu falls in love with his classmate (Kamalinee) but it doesn't work.Later he saves best buddies Jo (Parvathi Melton) and Bhagyamathi (Illeana), daughters of the police officer, from goondas and predictably they both fall in love with him.Sanjay rejects Jo's proposal, but the friendship between Baghyamathi and Sanjay slowly grows into love.However, the cop is not willing to sign his daughter's marriage with Sahu, whom he thinks as a carefree youth without any commitments.

Meanwhile, Damodar Reddy is out on a vengeance mission against Sahu, as his lands are distributed among the rural poor by the naxalites.Now, the police officer wants to get his daughter married to a decent young man (Sivaji), but he soon realizes that he is none other than the younger son of Damodar Reddy.How Sahu accomplish the task of undoing Reddy's attacks and winning the hand of Bhaghyamathi forms the climax.Pawan Kalyan steals the show through out.He shoulders the entire responsibility of doing something new in Jalsa.

Different mannerisms, comedy and action sequences have always been his trade mark.Illeana looks million bucks.Her chemistry with Pawan is perfect.The film explains why she became so rage among youth.Parvathi Melton, Kamalinee and Sivaji make just guest appearances.

Brahmanandam once again proves that he is a reservoir of talent.He brings life to the sagging second half.In one word, he is superb.Special mention should be made to Mahesh Babu for his excellent narration in the form of voice-over.It is a healthy trend set by Mahesh.

On the downside, there is nothing new story-wise.There is no justification to the title 'Jalsa'.Screenplay is fragile.Dialogues are average.M.

S.Guhan and Rasool's cinematography is class.Devi Sri Prasad has given his best but the songs on the screen are not that effective as they are to the ears.Director Trivikram focuses more on elevating Pawan Kalyan but gives a toss to the script and characterization of the protagonist.It seems silly that the Director has failed to create a good characterization even for the hero.

After Khushi, Jalsa is the film that created much hopes for Pawan Kalyan.If you are looking for just entertainment and good time pass, Jalsa surely offers it.But on the whole, it is an average film and has many loopholes including a weak second half.Released Date: 2nd April 2008