Lakshmi's NTR

Lakshmi's NTR Story: The film narrates the love story of a politician with his biographer, the repercussions he faces for choosing to marry again and a political backstabbing like none other.

Lakshmi's NTR Review: In a season of political biopics, Lakshmi's NTR is perhaps the most controversial of them all. This is the third biopic on legendary actor and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NT Rama to release this year, and the second that covers aspects of his political journey. But this is a biopic like none other, mainly because the film's directors — Ram Gopal Varma and Agasthya Manju — have decided to showcase the infamous political stabbing of current AP CM Chandrababu Naidu against his own father-in-law NTR. And yet, for all the drama surrounding the film's release, it seems the build up and controversy around Lakshmi's NTR was far more entertaining than the movie itself. Come release day, the film flatters to deceive and is an overstretched, melodramatic fare.

Lakshmi Parvathi (Yagna Shetty) is a devout admirer of NT Rama Rao (P Vijay Kumar) and wants to write his biography. She touches NTR's feet and crouches near his feet as he sits proudly on his armchair. She's already married when she meets NTR but nothing is more important for her than NTR's happiness, even if it means spending her entire day at his residence. Out of power and lonely after his wife’s death, Lakshmi fills the void in NTR’s life and the two become extremely close over the course of time. Lakshmi’s proximity to NTR is frowned upon by his family and son-in-law Chandrababu Naidu (Sritej) approaches him, urging NTR to maintain distance for the sake of the party. NTR is having none of it, and decides to marry her instead. Chandrababu sees Lakshmi as a potential heir to NTR's political legacy and decides to seize matters in his own hands, executing a dramatic political backstabbing.

At a time when filmmakers are battling to showcase NTR's journey on celluloid, Lakshmi's NTR is a story that deserves to be told. But the manner in which the film is executed lacks finesse and it becomes a tedious experience for the viewers. The film is unnecessarily dark at all times and there are typically unusual camera angles used (which you would associate with an RGV film) which isn't really necessary. The film is so overly melodramatic that it makes you feel you'r in NTR's era, watching a movie in the '60s. There seems to be a pause after every second dialogue, seemingly for melodramatic effect, but it only irritates you as a viewer. You want the story to move forward. It eventually does, but at a snail's pace.

RGV, however, takes the courageous step of showcasing the infamous political stabbing and the 'viceroy incident'. Chandrababu Naidu is shown as main architect of the backstabbing and is shown as plotting and executing it in cold-blooded fashion. But there are a few loopholes in the story. For instance, Chandrababu Naidu is seen campaigning with NTR and Lakshmi Parvathi on top of his van during the elections, but a few moments later, he says that NTR hasn't been talking to him because of what he had said about Lakshmi Parvathi much earlier. The narrative doesn't add up. The political drama does bring in some much-needed pace into this film but is undone by unbearably long climax.

Lakshmi's NTR does tell the story of an important and less talked about phase in the legendary actor-politician's life. But a good story doesn't always make for a good film. And unfortunately, RGV's Lakshmi's NTR never really takes off.