Jagapathi Movie Reviews

Even an ordinary story can be made into a €˜watchable€™ movie with a skilful screenplay. And on the contrary, even a workable story can be let down by a silly script.

It is the case of latter in Jagapati, as a shambolic screenplay dilutes the essence of a promising story. In the event, what eventually emerges is a mindless masala of seen-before variety.

Jagapati (Jagapathi Babu), a policeman in a small village, almost acts as the henchman of the local MLA Nagaraj Goud (Pradeep Rawat).

Jagapati also goes to the extent of reducing the police station into a bar.

Enter Lavanya (Rakshitha), the widow of Murari (Sai Kiran) who is killed by Jagapati.

Lavanya brings about a change in his life and soon he turns right and takes on the venal MLA.

The story has a decent plot to it with some inherent suspense to it (about Lavanya€™s past).

But the tepid screenplay that has been constructed with an eye on front-benchers botches it all.

Jagapati in an eponymous role is as ever bankable. He gets the character€™s specifics right. As a corrupt policeman he is funny and when he turns serious, he brings about the right body language changes.

Rakshitha too is full of cherubic enthusiasm. Cast in a serious role, she does justice to her role. Of course, there is no dearth of glamour.

Navneet Kaur, as a vamp cop, has nothing much to do. Pradeep Rawat goes through the motions of the villain, and so does M S Narayana as a comedian. Sai Kiran€™s part is negligible.

MM Keeravani€™s music is good and a couple of songs are really hum-worthy.His background score is also adequate. Jayaram€™s camera work is easy on the eyes.

But the direction of Jonnalagadda Srinivas is almost puerile. He doesn€™t get most of the things right. Even mass entertainers need a well thought out script.

Jagapati lacks that.