Arya 2 movie Review

Cast: Allu Arjun, Navdeep, Ajay, Kajal, Shraddha Das and others.

Banner: Aditya Arts.

Cinematography: RD Rajasekhar.

Editing: Marthand K. Venkatesh.

Music: Devisri Prasad.

Presenter: BVSN Prasad.

Producer: Aditya Babu.

Direction: Sukumar.

Release Date: November 27, 2009

Allu Arjun and Kajal Aarya is torn between love and friendship, and till the end we are not sure if he is just plain crazy, crazy about his friend or utterly selfish. There are some surprises, a certain amount of predictability and the tiny touches here and there we've come to expect out of Sukumar's debut and sole other film. Whereas Aarya in Aarya was an adorable, papaam kind of guy (but with the ability to bash up 20 men-just that he prefers not to), Aarya in Aarya-2 is eccentric, chain-smoking alcoholic, whose friendship with Ajay seems forced, almost violent initially. The narration and screenplay deserve a mention. The movie starts with Navdeep who plays Ajay proclaiming that 'with a friend like Aarya, there is no need of enemies'.

Aarya and Ajay belong to an orphanage, and Aarya befriends Ajay. He sets the rules, Ajay tolerates him. Ajay is adopted by a rich family and Aarya grows up to be an embarassment to the now polished, educated Ajay who heads a company. Aarya somehow bags a job in that company on the condition that a single complaint and he's out. So a whole new Aarya emerges 'Mr. Perfect'. Geeta joins the company, wins admirers but of course Ajay and Geeta fall in love with her. Aarya shows his real side to Geeta, Geeta grows to detest him and Ajay churns out his own plans to get Geeta. Meanwhile her family fixes her marriage to their rivals (to befriend them) and end faction in..where else? Rayalaseema. And another adventure post-break.

Remember how in Aarya he throws a coin into coke paper cups? Well here he tosses heads or tails for all the major life decisions. Like who gets the girl. If Ajay calls heads, and heads it is, then Aarya wins. How? Everything that Ajay owns is his. The office has a bunch of characters, like Brahmanandam playing Dasavatharam with his insight on psychology, Shraddha Das as Shanti-a manic-depressive girl hopelessly in love with Mr. Perfect. What works-Aarya's love for his friend, his madness for the girl and a couple of twists and turns. The deterring point here is that actually the character itself is not exactly likeable-he is obsessive, then in the office its all nothing but pretence and even though we see the honest and likeable side post-break, helped by a little mischief on the part of Ajay, he IS pretty neurotic. Oh and the little touches? He bashes up people if they are rude to Ajay and then performs first-aid on them or calls for an ambulance. And the director adds stuff like this here and there (spoilers).

Arjun acts, overacts, reacts, overreacts, dances, prances, keeps a poker face, sobs, weeps and does a few back flips too. Whew. Navdeep maintains a serious face throughout, only coming alive post-break. Kajal does the whole bubbly act that's expected out of our female leads and she also steals a scene or two only towards the end. Ajay plays a Rayalaseema hulk, a little dim but also madly in love with Geeta, and the scenes between Arjun and Ajay are fun; cheesy, but fun. The climax drags a little, but seems crucial for the necessary closure required for all those people in this love circle.

The music is good, though for some reason, a lot of the lyrics have been changed in the movie. The choreography is good, although it gets a little repetitive. Arjun dances like never before. The item song will stay on the charts as will the club song, along with both the love songs. Mr. Perfect is cute.

Aarya 2 lacks the simplicity of its predecessor; but the complexity and eccentricity of the protagonist and all his relationships is what defines this movie.