Review: LIE – Fast-paced thriller laced with Power-packed action elements

Cast: Nithiin, Mega Akash and Arjun
Director: Hanu Raghvapudi
Producer: Ram Achanta, Gopichand Achanta and Anil Sunkara
Banner: 14 Reels Entertainment
Music Director: Manisharma

LIE, starring Nithiin and newcomer Megha Akash, is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Hanu Raghavapudi and the expectations on the film are quite high. With interesting teasers, trailers and songs, LIE has garnered a lot of attention and is expected to open to good numbers this Friday at the BO. With an ensemble cast which includes Action King Arjun, LIE hit the screens today. Now, let us see how it will be:

Story:
The story revolves around a guy whose name is A. Sathyam, which he mixes up and tell as Asathyam(Translates to Lie). So whatever he says will be a lie after all. In this confusion, he meets a girl and falls for her and tries to impress her.
During the course, she falls for him for his lies. But suddenly, the introduction of a bag messes up the entire run of his life and his love life. A Don(Arjun) who wants that bag to be sent ends up in Sathyam’s hand. The bag has some useful information which even the police wants. What’s there in that bag? What are the messes did Satyam faced? What happens to their love story? Forms the rest of the story.

Positive Aspects:

Nithiin has delivered a brilliant performance in LIE and his looks and action are the highlights of the film. Megha Akash has done justice to her role and her chemistry with the hero is good. Arjun Sarja, Sri Ram, Ajay, Nassar, Ravi Kishan, Brahmaji, Prithviraj and Brahmanandam have also done good jobs
Mani Sharma’s songs and background score, J Yuvaraj’s cinematography, beautiful locales and choreography of action and chase scenes are the attractions on the technical front.
Intriguing plot

Arjun’s antagonist avatar
Mani Sharma’s songs
Nithiin’s impressive makeover
Negative Aspects:
Not a very convincing ending
Limited comedy elements

Verdict:
Expect for few lags in the second half, you can watch. Nithiin’s steals the show all the way. Watch it for Nithiin new changeover, Arjun’s antagonist skills, Hanu Raghavpudi’s direction and power-packed action elements.

Rating: 3 /5

Review: Nene Raju Nene Mantri – A worth watch Political Thriller

Cast: Rana Daggubati, Kajal Aggarwal, Catherine Tresa
Director: Teja
Producer: D. Suresh Babu (Presenter), Kiran Reddy, Bharath Chowdary
Banner: Suresh Productions, Blue Planet Entertainments
Music Director: Anoop Rubens

Nene Raju Nene Mantri starring Rana Daggubati and Kajal Aggarwal is touted to a political-drama and has Rana Daggubati playing, Jogendra, a money lender who aspires to become the Chief Minister. Directed by Teja, Nene Raju Nene Mantri hits the screens today and now let us see how it will be:

Story:
Jogendra (Rana Daggubati) is a small-time businessman in a village and decides to contest for the post of village sarpanch. A few political games lead Jogendra to become a minister in the cabinet of Tanikella Bharani.

He grows up big time as a politician and tries hard to become the chief minister. But he resigns from his post after he faces rivalry within the party and contests in the elections as an independent candidate. Did Jogendra succeed as a chief minister? How he faced rivalry from opposition? What are the consequences he faced? Why he turned as a ruthless politician? What is his personal life? Forms the rest of the story.

Positive Aspects:
Rana Daggubati has done a brilliant job as Jogendra and his performance is the highlight of Nene Raju Nene Mantri. Kajal Aggarwal has played her part well and her chemistry with Rana is good. Catherine Tresa, Navdeep, Ashutosh Rana, Shivaji Raja, Tanikella Bharani, Ajay, Pradeep Rawat and others have also done justice to their roles.

Nene Raju Nene Mantri has good production values and background score, picturisation, action scenes and punch dialogues are the attractions on the technical front.
Rana’s Characterization as Jogendra
Kajal – Rana bonding and love scenes
Navadeep – Rana scenes
Intriguing plot-points
Kajal Aggarwal’s homely, yet sexy avatar
Teja’s filmmaking skills

Negative Aspects:
Slow Narration
Expected Scenes

Verdict:
Nene Raja Nene Mantri shows off the current political issues happening in the society. Perfect film for Political lovers and Rana fans. Watch it and enjoy! A worth watch.

Rating: 3.75/5

Star actor and mass director set to team up soon?

Superstar Mahesh Babu is busy shooting for his upcoming film SPYder and soon after completion of the film, he will begin shooting for his next Bharath Ane Nenu. After that film, Mahesh will next team up with Vamshi Paidipally for his landmark 25th film.

For the past few days, there were many rumours that Mahesh Babu will team up with Boyapati Srinu. However, now in a recent media interaction, Boyapati revealed that he was supposed to team up with Mahesh long back, but things didn’t work in his favour as he didn’t come up with a convincing script.

He further added that he is now working on a science fiction script for Mahesh Babu. It is heard that there will be a final narration after which Mahesh will decide on the project. If everything goes well, a top production house will bankroll this project.

SPYder teaser took internet by storm

The teaser of superstar Mahesh Babu and A R Murugadoss’s Tamil-Telugu bilingual spy-thriller `Spyder’ was released on the occasion of Mahesh Babu’s 41st birthday and took the Internet by storm. The teaser was released in Tamil as well as Telugu.

Going by the visuals, the film assures epic clash between Mahesh and SJ Suryah, who plays the antagonist. It seems to be a typical Murugadoss kind of teaser with a villain creating problems to the society and the hero standing up against him.

`Spyder’ is about bio-terrorism and the hero’s fight against it. The teaser is action packed with lot of hero-elevating shots. Murugadoss teases us by not revealing the villain (played by SJ Surya) completely. There is just a side view of the actor, who dubbed in his own voice for the Telugu version. Produced by Tagore Madhu, the film is slated for release on September

Young actress confirmed for Mega hero

Lavanya Tripathi has been constantly trying to get into the big league of heroines. Now, the latest buzz reveals that she will be a part of VV Vinayak’s upcoming project. Sai Dharam Tej is playing the lead in the film. The film launch took place yesterday.
The film is tipped to be an action and family entertainer in the lines of Vinayak’s previous actioners. Lavanya Tripathi who did act with Sirish in Srirasthu Subhamasthu finally landed herself on this project.

Lavanya is surely in need of a solid hit. CK Entertainments is the production house bankrolling the film where C Kalyan is the producer.

Sam opens up about her plans about Handloom sector

During a recently handloom event Woven, Samantha Ruth Prabhu opened up about why she cares such a lot for the handloom sector and won quite a few hearts along the way. While taking on the issue, she said last year when she visited a few villages in Telangana she learned that handloom workers earn only 10 percent of what their products are worth. She went on to add that this made her realize that there is a need to preserve our culture and strive for the betterment of handloom workers.

“Earlier this year I visited many villages in Telangana. I met many wonderful men and women who dedicated their lives to handlooms. Unfortunately they earn one tenth of the prices at which their products are sold. It was disheartening. It is sad that the town and cities where the art once thrived is now fading away. The young generation does not want to take up the profession because it pays less. Do we want to be a generation that caused the death of tradition and culture?” she added.

On a related note, this is a busy time for Samantha. She will soon be tying the knot with Naga Chaitanya. On the work front, she has ‘Mersal’ and ‘Rangasthalam’ in her kitty. ‘Rangasthalam’ is touted to be a romantic-drama and also stars Ram Charan in the lead. On the other hand, ‘Mersal’ is an action-drama and also features Vijay in the lead.

NTR releases press statement regarding Service Tax of Nannaku Prematho

Reports were doing rounds that Jr NTR was served a show cause notice by tax authorities in connection with Service tax for his 2015 film Nannaku Prematho. Reports suggested that there were some issues with the Service tax charged by the actor for the film and is now being served the notice asked to pay that. Jr NTR has now opened up about this issue and released a statement clarifying the issue.

“I have acted in the above film in 2015 which was made in the UK by the producer. I was advised by legal and tax experts that any Service (in this case as an actor) rendered outside India for which payment is received in Foreign Exchange, is not taxable for Service Tax in India. Accordingly, I have not collected the service tax from the producer of “Nannaku Prematho”,” read the statement by Jr NTR.

The statement also said, “In 2016 when C&AG officials conducted a review of my Service Tax returns and raised a query, my legal and economic team gave an explanation in writing about the same. After sending that written reply in 2016, till date, we have not received any further communication regarding this mater, like a show cause notice or demand, from the authorities.”

He also said that he is a law abiding citizen and if asked by the authorities to pay, will clear all the dues if applicable. “If and when I receive any communication from the authorities, I will respond as per the applicable law. I have been a law abiding citizen and faithful Income tax and Service tax payer for the last several years,” said the statement.