By V.S. Rajapur
Film: “Simha”; Cast: Balakrishna, Nayantara, Namita, Sneha Ullal, Aditya Menon, Kota Sreenivasa Rao and others; Director: Boyapati Srinu; Producer: Parachuri Kireeti; Music Director: Chakri; Camera; Wilson and Prasad; Rating: ** 1/2

Actor Balakrishna’s fans can heave a sigh of relief. After nearly six years, the charismatic star bounces back with “Simha”, which boasts of enjoyable commercial ingredients that does not look silly or illogical on screen.

In a way, Balakrishna’s fans may well remember his age-old blockbuster films like “Lakshmi Narasimha”, “Narsimha Naidu” and many others through “Simha”, which may not be a great commercial film, but yet an appealing fare for all classes.

Director Boyapati Srinu’s “Simha” has lot of mass appeal and entertainment quotient to keep the audience happy. Srinu, who had earlier delivered hits like “Bhadra” with Ravi Teja and “Tulasi” with Venkatesh, delivers another strong commercial film without compromising with Balakrishna’s image.

Srinu has added lot of punch in the second half that generates lot of curiosity and thrills. The so-called comedy elements, however, fail to deliver and Balakrishna’s punchy dialogues look ordinary. But suddenly the twists and turns in the second half heighten the interest.

It seems as if even Balakrishna knows forced and ferocious dialogues don’t work when the audience are looking for something different in every film. He looks extremely relaxed in the role of a doctor and tries to be as restrained as possible.

Credit should go to Srinu for making a perfect package for audiences who want to see good commercial entertainers. Yes, he has used time-tested mass elements that saved Balakrishna’s earlier successful films like “SamaraSimha Reddy” and “Narasimha Naidu”, but quite intelligently.

He has scripted a perfect story to entertain the audience.

The negative points are song placements - they look funny at times. And sometimes even Balakrishna attempts to please his fans through ferocious dialogues thus putting a spanner into a neat narration.

Balakrishna plays professor Sreemannarayana who is wooed by his pretty female colleague (Namita) as well as his student Janaki (Sneha Ullal) whom he saves from goons. Janaki runs away from her home because she is forced to marry her own brother’s killer. Meanwhile, a rowdy from Vizag takes away Janaki from Sreemannarayana, and then the story takes us back to a violent episode that happened three decades ago.

Balakrishna scores as a doctor, but not so good as a lecturer. Namita has done only skin show. Nayantara has a small role, but she looks good on screen. Bollywood actress Sneha Ullal gives a decent performance.

Comedians like Brahmanandam and Venu Madhav, who are capable of giving better performances, are wasted in the film.

Chakri’s music is good. Wilson’s camera angles are quite effective for this action oriented film.

Balakrishna’s fans are bound to enjoy this new commercial entertainer from Srinu. He has really saved Balakrishna from falling to lower depths.