Waltair Veerayya - mass riot

Waltair Veerayya

2023, Telugu

Director - Bobby Collin

Mohan's Measure ⭐⭐

Stars - Chiranjeevi, Prakash Raj, Ravi Teja, Bobby Simha, Shruthi Hasan, Catherine Tresa

Believe me. I was thinking about seeing ''that other movie.'' But, then again,  I want to retain a good impression with the local Police. 

So, we find ourselves in a full theater with  Megastar fans watching Waltair Veerayya, the latest in Chiranjeevi's virtually  countless collection of movies. 

The movie is like so many others. A thug with a heart of gold takes on a powerful gang of archetypal bad guys to save the world and win the leading lady's love. 

This time, she is Shruthi Hasan, the very same leading lady from the movie in the adjoining theater that caused all the ruckus.  What makes her different in this movie is that she is given a few minutes more of screen time.  Other than that, she is merely eye candy as in every other Tollywood film she has been in, the question of whether she can actually act at all yet to be answered. 

This leads to the need for someone to bring the plot together, as Mr. Chiranjeevi is too busy playing the lovable thug we all are told to adore (doesn't anyone remember him in Rudra Veena?) Enter Mr. Bobby Simha as the sadistic Solomon Caesar. He takes the movie with a style of acting unique to himself. He is an actor who can take even the darkest character and bring a certain self effacing humor to it, to the point we almost relate to him. 

Sadly, he must step aside for Ravi Teja and Prakash Raj, characters added through a needlessly long flashback to reveal to us how, as always,  revenge, not something unimportant like  justice, is Veerayya's true motivation. 

Waltair Veerayya is a predictably over the top but surprisingly entertaining popcorn film. Watch it once, if only to say you did. You will leave the theater not necessarily brimming with laughter, but certainly full from popcorn.