Hello Movie Review

Movie Review: Hello          3/5

  

2 Hr 12 Mi | Love | 2017-12-22

CAST

Akhil Akkineni, Kalyani, Jagapathi Babu, Ramya Krishna and others

Director - Vikram Kumar
Producer - Nagarjuna Akkineni
Banner - Annapurna Studios
Music - Anup Rubens

Hello, which is termed as the 're-launch' of Akhil, younger son of Nagarjuna, is a neatly packed romantic entertainer with a dose of action. Vikram Kumar once again weaves magic with his captivating screenplay.

What is it about?

Seenu (Akhil) is a street kid who befriends Junnu (Kalyani). The kids get separated at young age and how they come together against all odds forms crux of the story.

Performances:

Akhil who appeared clueless and uncomfortable in front of the camera in his debut film comes up with a very good performance in Hello. He has a camera friendly face and got an agile body that can come handy in songs and fights. This guy is here to stay. Kalyani is a good performer too. Her cute face and expressive eyes will impress the viewers. Jagapathi Babu and Ramya Krishna are very good as adoptive parents of Seenu. Ajay has a limited role but makes his presence felt.

Technicalities:

Vikram Kumar is a director who tries to do new things in every film. He has the talent to narrate a very simple story in an arresting way. Plot of Hello is very simple, but Vikram Kumar makes it a pleasant watch with his screenplay writing skills. Hello may not rank among the director's best works, but it is a film that will add weight to his repertoire.

Anup Rubens does a great job as the music director. Vikram Kumar brings the best of Anup and Hello is another fine example for it. Even the background score is soothing and elevates the soul of the film. PS Vinod's cinematography is excellent. The stunning visuals will not let you blink your eyes. Action choreography is another asset to the film. Production values are so rich proving that Nagarjuna has given it everything to make his son's second film click.

Thumbs Up:	Thumbs Down:
Screenplay	Very thin plot
Second half	Slightly underwhelming first half
Cinematography	Slow paced
Music	-
Lead pair	-

Analysis:

It is definitely a re-launch for Akhil as everything about his first film had gone very wrong. A film like Hello should have been his launch pad. He has a face that suits love stories the best. The film presents him as an actor than the son of a big star. There is a lengthy episode in the first half where Akhil is not seen at all. The star kid doesn't throw any tantrums and simply believes in the director's vision and execution.

Hello story is similar to that of Manasantha Nuvve and Bujjigadu where a couple gets separated as kids and get back again after many years. Story is routine, but Vikram Kumar gives it a new spin by cleverly adding the action backdrop to it. The second hand mobile-mafia backdrop sounds interesting. However, there isn't much focus on it. The thread helps the film to incorporate some racy action episodes.

Hello is basically a love story with some emotionally tugging moments and wonderful songs. Some of the best technicians worked on the film and they have made the film worth a watch in spite of clichéd story and done to death kids love story. Vikram Kumar's real strength lies in narrating the story. He is known for writing good screenplays with simple plots. He does it again in Hello by creating some magical moments here and there.

Hello is not a joyful ride throughout. The graph keeps on going up and down, but it never gets boring. Nicely placed songs, beautiful lead pair, fantastic visuals and Vikram Kumar's screenplay makes it a pleasing watch for the target audience. It may not appeal to the masala movie lovers as it doesn't have those peppy mass numbers and glaring comedy tracks. It is a film that can make an impression in A centers and overseas market.

Akhil gets many things right this time and he should make sure to head in the right direction to capitalize on it. Hello is not a blockbuster material but has enough to keep the audience entertained from start to finish.

Verdict: Second Time Lucky!

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