The ranking of the Indian film industry goes like this:
1. Hindi-speaking Bollywood films = good
2. Tamil-speaking Bollywood films = fair
3. Telugu-speaking Tollywood films = bad

I don't understand what's going on with the Telugu-speaking Indian film industry - how in the hell did they pull off the creation of MAGADHEERA? I'm confused...

MAGADHEERA is a phenomenal piece of Indian entertainment. This 165-minute romantic action movie masala film is just perfect. It's not a great film, but it is a perfect Bollywood or Tollywood or Indian Hollywood film. MAGADHEERA can practically be paired up with JODHAA AKBAR (India's most recent Bollywood masterpiece) in which that film is a very serious historical epic filmed like a Ridley Scott film, while MAGADHEERA is a historical/contemporary action masala epic filmed like a James Cameron film (True Lies mode).

MAGADHEERA is a bit like a cross between PRINCE OF PERSIA, Darren Aronofsky's THE FOUNTAIN and Zach Snyder's 300. It's a reincarnation story for 4 characters - the hero, the girl, the villain, and a dictator. They all had died 400 years ago but they come back into the present time to finish unfinished business with love, revenge, and the gods. Since this is a Bollywood film, the story is very simple and the characters are pretty 2-dimensional but we all know that's how Bollywood films are. Furthermore, this is a long movie that moves along fast with not one piece of filler.

What's even more amazing is that this film is perfectly filmed. Where did they find all this Indian crew to make such a professionally filmed and edited film? It's totally shocking. This is right up there as one of the best filmed Bollywood movies. Concerning the action scenes, these have the best choreographed action scenes out of any Bollywood film yet - everything is smooth and doesn't seem wire-worky. The action choreography in this film was done by Bollywood's action master - Peter Hein. This is his best work to date.

MAGADHEERA is full of action scenes that also are very original. There are a few which may have been inspired by 300, but overall, this movie is not stealing or borrowing from any other movie - it's a true original work. The fight scenes are well-filmed and the actors seem like they knew what they were doing. The action is full-blown R-rated - with blood, decapitations, body parts getting chopped off, etc. It's just great! And the CGI special effects are excellent - probably the best I've seen in Bollywood.

T & A, yes there is! What I like about Tamil and Telugu films is that they don't praise flat-chested actresses as they do in Hollywood and Hindi-speaking Bollywood. Big breasted actresses are in this film. Period. Let me give you an example. There's a musical number in which the Megan Fox of Telugu cinema runs in boob-jiggling slo-mo and also does some anime-style boob thrust which turns the dudes to stone. Great stuff.

The acting is good in this film as well - all very theatrical and Bollywoodish, but good for what it is. The main actor - Ram Charan Teja - is like the Colin Farrell of India, a totally convincing tough and likable Indian actor (almost as good as Hrithik Roshan). He is a truly good leading man in India, especially when all the other ones in Bollywood are flamboyant tools. The main actress - Kajal Agarwal - is like the Blake Lively of India. And the spear-throwing master villain is pretty scary, creepy, and tough.

I would also like to add that the musical numbers and musical score is excellent as well...

The NTSC 2-disk DVD by SRI BALAJI VIDEO is one of the best Indian DVDs i've seen. The anamorphic video quality is excellent. The DD 5.1 Telugu audio is very nice and active as well. The English subtitles have some mistakes here and there, but overall generally better than most Bollywood movies released on DVD. The Extras on Disk 2 is just a 40 minute non-English subtitled Making of the Film.


FILM: 9
DVD VIDEO: 9
DVD AUDIO: 9
EXTRAS: 2


IMDB review: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1447500/

This DVD is a bargain selling for 8-10 bucks at: http://www.bhavanidvd.com/product_info.php?products_id=3889. I ordered it on Friday and was amazed how fast I got it in the mail (today).

MAGADHEERA is the first great film of India of 2010. It's total escapism and I didn't want it to end. The simple but creative Indian mythological story, beautiful cinematography, amazing choreographed scenes, and good-looking actors will definitely make me want to upgrade to the Blu-Ray when it comes out.

Thanks for the review. Sounds really cool

I watched this and its lthe only telegu film ive ever watched, mainly because i heard it made as much money as ghajini did so decided to check what the fuss is about, and was pleasantly suprised, it was a gud movie, with a very good first half and a good start to the second predicatble ending but overall an good entertaining film.

Hey guys, I dont understand Teleugu and dont even remember when I watched the last telugu film. But I just watched the film based on the review above and the popularity I head from some of my friends. And I guess they are very much right- The film is really and truly amazing in the hardworks that is put in by all departments. The most amaing thing is going back to 400 years and still I felt that the story belongs to the characters in present times. It is very well blended in that aspect and shows the detailing in its writing and direction.

My only crbbing was that one, at most places its mindblowing but still there are some places the CG looks dated and poor and two that the dvd is not so good as is stated in the review above. I could actually pick more than a couple of shots that are totally out of focus and look like they are transferred as it is wthout paying attention to fact that the screen goes totally messy in those few seconds. But everyone note that I am saying this just because I loved the concept and its execution so much that for something with almost perfect cinematic experience, I cant withstand any minute thing going wrong with the film/dvd to achieve what it deserves - A standing ovation from all audiences around the globe. Thanks for the review Toddly6666.

The BR should be released tomorrow..finally. So I hopefully get mine then in 2 weeks

Bhavani has the BR

http://www.bhavanidvd.com/product_info. ... d59f9ab14c