Guru (2017): Its exactly been a year since I watched Irudhi Suttru and still now I use the term "FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY,STING LIKE A BEE" in exactly the same slang as Ritika Singh.Its been a year when Vaa Machaane and Ey Sandakara added into my track list.Its been a year I became a huge fan of Ritika Singh.So watching Guru felt like reliving such awesome moment once again.So how is Guru?
Plot: A boxing-coach Aditya (Venkatesh) who has trouble keeping his tempers down is transferred to Vizag, when he fights with the head coach Dev (Zakir Hussain).Vizag is not known for having women boxing champions. He has no hopes to find any girl to train there. But luckily, he spots a slum girl Ramulu (Ritika) who has talent and is very aggressive like him.Aditya takes up the challenge to train her into a champion. How Aditya and Ramulu tread their path to the glory overcoming the obstacles?
Plus Points:
1)Rithika Singh and Venkatesh: Rithika Sngh is not only an awesome performer but also an experienced Kick Boxer and Martial arts student.Like in the original, Ritika Singh gives a stand out performance. She is the mainstay of the film as her chemistry with Venkatesh is quite striking. Ritika's body language, her Telugu dubbing, everything is just spot on.She stands out in the boxing sequences post interval. She is so natural.Venkatesh gave one of his career best performance as Adi,a short tempered coach.Venky gives away unnecessary heroism and lets Ritika Singh take center stage. Venky's emotions and the way he puts up a fight with his subtle yet intense emotions till the last scene shows what an actor like him can pull off if given a good subject.He even made remarks about his age in few scenes especially when heroine proposes him he says "NEE BABU AGE VUNTADHI NAAKU".
2)Screenplay and Direction: Guru has no surprise elements as sports dramas are usually predictable and meant to be predictable most of the times.An inspiring and engaging screenplay plays a key role is the success.We have to feel proud of Sudha Kongara,our Telugu lady director who got her debut chance in Kollywood but not in Tollywood.Sudha's screenplay is taut as she does not waste much time and finishes the film in a crisp manner. She is surely a talent to watch out for and directors like her will surely carry Telugu films forward.
3)Music: Santhosh Narayan's one of the best works.All the songs are already in my track list and I am glad that Telugu version songs carried the same feel as original and addition of Jingidi Jingidi deserves credit as Venkatesh's voice took the song to peaks.BGM is very good.
4)Dialogues: Few dialogues which are not present in original are awesome.Especially the dialogue when heroine say "Bongulo age" is hilarious..There are some colloquial phrases in the film that our heroes normally don't dare of using them.
Minus Points:
None
So,Guru is one of the best remakes I had ever seen.You will definitely love Rithika and Venkatesh's stellar performances and movie too.
My rating 8/10
