Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Gayam’ is easily one of the best films made in Telugu film industry. It made Jagapathi Babu the actor he is today! To make a sequel to ‘Gayam’, that too after 15 or 16 years, is as risky proposition because of two reasons. The audiences might have forgotten what it is, and there will be too much of comparison between the prequel and sequel. Debutant director Pravin Sri managed to convince his Guru Ram Gopal Varma to allow him to make a sequel. Is it a worthy sequel?

What’s it about: Coffee shop owner Ram (Jagapathi Babu) and his decorator wife Vidya (Vimala Raman) are a happy couple living in Bangkok. They have an adorable kid too. Caught in a strange situation, Ram helps a woman from goons, attracting Telugu media from Hyderabad.

In Hyderabad, Guru Narayan (Kota) is eyeing the CM’s chair though he cannot forget how Durga spoilt his plans to rise in politics years ago. He still has his lawyer (Bharani) as his loyal friend and guide. Both the friends realize the voice from TV, but somehow miss the visual. Guru Narayan’s fiercely volatile son Shankar sets out to Bangkok to find who this Ram is, accompanied by the lawyer.

As Ram and Vidya are stalked by these two, Vidya finds the truth that Ram was indeed Durga. Is Durga, who was once a kingpin, running away? Will Guru Narayan get his revenge back? ‘Gayam 2’ gives the answer in the backdrop of today’s political scenario.

What is Good: The first half is high on fire. Characters are introduced and established with little effort. Kota Srinivasa Rao and Thanikella Bharani look like they are competing with each other in acting department. Kota Srinivasa Rao’s son Prasad, who passed away recently, acts as Kota’s son. His characterization is inspired from Sonny Corleone in ‘God Father’.

There is one particular scene, when Jagapathi Babu closes his eyes as Ram and opens them like Durga. Even though only for a second, that is one of the best performance in Telugu films, in recent times.

It is good to see Revathi in few scenes. Infact for those who haven’t watched ‘Gayam’, the film is cut short and shown to the audiences. Though the difference between Ram Gopal Varma and the rookie director is evident, the first half rocks!

Seniors’ acting, shot making, cinematography and background music keep you engrossed. However it is in the second half that the film starts to loose its fizz.

What is bad: Conveniences start playing havoc with the screenplay, after Durga returns to Hyderabad. He has an almost loyal gang even before he returns after many years! As we see the crowd scenes, political speeches, media frenzy, the story becomes polluted. The music sounds as if something huge is happening, but the visuals show very little. Infact all dons are planners and they only drive their plans. They never execute it. By showing Durga killing ordinary goons, writers opt for ‘showing’ heroism, than getting his power connected to the audiences (like in ‘Gayam’).

Vimala Raman looks singled out in the midst of all these actors, not knowing when to underplay or be loud. Her dubbing artist too disappoints! Harshavardhan’s character is just unnecessary. The flashback scene got one of the film’s low points.

However it is the climax that is extremely low in content and too convenient for anyone to guess. It is reminiscent of ‘Rann’; but it had someone like Amitabh Bachchan to drive it. But here it seems like Durga does nothing at all! However, we might give the director a benefit of doubt because Kota Prasad passed away in the middle of the film. This might have changed the way the director had planned what he wanted earlier.

Technical Departments: : Director Pravin Sri shows all the skills he must have learnt from his boss. For most part of the film it seems he got his head right on his shoulders! To control actors like Kota and Bharani requires special skills and he never allows any other actor, except Prasad, to go overboard.

Dialogues are exceptional in some situations, and on the whole good. Lyrics are all meaningful and Illayaraja keeps his score in check. Cinematographer must have had fun shooting close ups of some terrific actors, building the emotions out of nothing and also having lots of crowd scenes. Together the cinematographer, editor and art director do a very balanced job.

Final Point: ‘Gayam 2’ is no ‘Gayam’, where one scene after another keeps getting better and better. But it is a worthy sequel. Yes it has problems, but most are forgivable because of the content the film deals with. Go watch it for the way it brings some modern cinematic language to Telugu.