Film: Panjaa

Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Sara Jane Dais, Anjala Lavania, Jockey Shroff, Adivi Seshu, Atul Kulkarni, Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao, Ali, Brahmanandam, Subbaraju, Jhansi and others.

Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja

Cinematography: PS.Vinod

Editing: Srikar Prasad

Art: Sunil Babu

Screenplay: Rahul Koda

Producer: Neelima Tirumala Shetty, Shobhu Yarlagadda, Nagesh Muntha, Prasad Devineni

Direction: Vishnu Vardhan

Banner: Arka Media Works and Sanghamitra Art Productions

Story: Jai (Pawan Kalyan) is brought up by a mafia don Bhagawan (Jockey Shroff) who holds the position of senior member of a gang. This gang has tiffs with another gang in the city which is led by Kulkarni (Atul Kulkarni). Jai falls in love with Sandhya (Sara Jane Dais) who has a liking towards gardening and growing plants. Meanwhile, Munna (Adivi Seshu), the son of Bhagawan, woos the club dancer Jahnavi and threatens her to love him. However, her wish is to get the love of Jai. Having known this matter, Munna furiously kills her. He also kills the son of Kulkarni. Vexed by his cruel acts, Jai kills him and goes to Palasa, which is the home village of Sandhya, to lead a peaceful and happy life. This time Bhagawan develops vengeance against Jai and he starts his search for Jai. Finally, he gets the details about Jai's location. Remaining part of the story deals with the fight between two big heads. Who will win? Watch it on the big screen. 

Artists Performance: 

Pawan Kalyan: Pawan Kalyan came up with energetic and a very stylish performance with a fresh look. It appeared as if he was shouldering complete part of the movie like many of his previous movies. His rough beard look has not done any damage to the movie; in fact, it brought a special craze to the movie. Also, his dances in the song 'Paparayudu' were the best comparing with the dances of his recent past movies. Underplay is the concept adopted by him in playing this role rather than doing overplay. However, he did not utter any powerful dialogues as they are much required for the audience. This has been one of the drawbacks of the movie. 

Heroines: Both the heroines Anjali Lavania and Sara Jane Dais appear skinny. If Anjali looked fair, Sara was a bit dark. Anjala's role ends in the first half itself where as Sara played the main heroine role. As both of the heroines are not that much attractive and appealing, maybe this could be the first and the last movie for them. 

 

Others: Jockey Shroff was decent in his character. Adivi Seshu's performance was fantastic in the role of psycho villain. Atul Kulkarni was okay. Ali's character was not properly used. Brahmanandam's comedy was not up to the mark. Paruchuri and Tanikella Bharani did their part as required. 

Technical Department: 

Music: Music by Yuvan Shankar Raja was good to listen. However, it was not understood by anyone why some of the songs were not shown for the full duration. Only 'Pallavi' was played in 'Anukoledani' song. There were interruptions in the item song, the number one song of the audio, the title song was shown after the climax is finished and by that time audience were about to vacate the theaters. It is so unfortunate thing for the music director as his songs were not properly used by the director. 

Story, Screen Play And Direction: Off late, it has been a common practice that most of the movies are being made with the subject as mafia backdrop and Panjaa is no more different to them. Moreover, the story as well as the character of Pawan Kalyan reminds us Pawan Kalyan's mafia based movie, 'Balu'. Many blunders from the direction department were noticed. The director could not make use of songs properly. Of course, he tried to incorporate all the elements like love, comedy, action etc., but nothing of them were proved as good. If the first half of the movie was filled with action and love element with somewhat good takings, the second half was a bit dragged with unnecessary scenes. Only, Brahmanandam's comedy is slight relief in this part. 

Sidelights: 

* All the fans of Pawan Kalyan were shocked as the title song was shown at the end of the movie.

* In one of the scenes, Pawan Kalyan gets his snap beside the cutout of Chiranjeevi in a dance movement. This scene received a huge applause from the audience.

* In one of the scenes, to humiliate Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao, villain Adivi Seshu pissed on him. Everybody got surprised why the dignified personality like Paruchuri has accepted to act in this highly disgusting scene. 

* The audience felt Anjala should have been the right choice comparing with Sara to act as the main heroine. 

* Pawan's character reminds us his character in 'Balu'. 

Catchy Dialogues: 

* Saayam pondina vaadu kruthagnatha choopakapovadam entha thappo....saayam chesina vaadu kruthagnatha korukovadam koodaa anthe thappu. -- A dialogue appears on the screen when the movie starts.

* Pullaki battalu kattukunnattu vunnaav...Neekantha power elaa vachchindamma? -- Brahmanandam to Pawan

* Paiki emi theleeni pasi pillaadila vuntav gaani neelo chaala vundi. -- Heroine to Pawan

Positives: 

* Pawan Kalyan

* Action and Mass entertaining element

Negatives:

* Heroines

* Songs were not well presented

* Ali's comedy was not up to the mark

* Mediocre direction

Bottom-Line: If Pawan's charisma and mass entertaining element work out well, the movie survives at the box office.

Rating: 3/5