Anubhavinchu Raja review: Raj Tarun back to form in a paisa vasool rural entertainer

3/5

Story:

Bangarraju, born in a family of rich landlords, loses his loved ones to a ghastly accident at a young age. His grandfather's only advice to him on his deathbed is to live life to the fullest rather than focusing on accumulation of wealth. The youngster stays true to his grandfather's word ever since and never compromises on his pleasures. A few years down the line, he's put behind bars. When freed, he takes up a job as a security guard. He gradually falls in love with a software employee Shruti, who has no clue of his past. What's Bangarraju hiding from her?

Review:

Though every actor aspires to be versatile and pull off roles across various genres, they inevitably have a comfort zone that they get back to, whenever in need. Rural entertainers are that comfort zone for Raj Tarun and he uses it as a trump card with Anubhavinchu Raja, to gather momentum to his career graph. It's a tailormade script designed to exploit his potential, just at the right time in his career. 

Raj Tarun finds the sweet spot in his second collaboration with director Sreenu Gavireddy (he had earlier directed him in Seethamma Andaalu Ramayya Sithralu) whose story packages an engaging potpourri of rural politics, humour, romance and action. The storytelling is straightforward, focused and the comedy is situational, surprisingly clean and relatable. The director is clear on what sets out to tell and remains in control of the proceedings.

Small-towns across Telugu states are full of tales where rich landlords drown their ancestral wealth for trivial pleasures. The lead character Bangarraju is one such - orphaned at an early age, who aimlessly goes about his life, literally not knowing what to do with all his wealth. How does he turn a security guard all of a sudden and what forces him to land in jail? The story keeps you hooked with several twists and turns.

The underdog avatar of Raj Tarun as a security guard makes for an interesting watch and the director infuses humour into the setting while the character goes through his daily routine. His on-screen camaraderie with Sudarshan, Posani help the sequences come alive effortlessly. Though the idea of a security guard and a software employee falling in love seems outlandish to begin with, the elastic, thankfully, isn't stretched too much.

No mainstream film misses out on an opportunity to come up with a good interval bang and Anubhavinchu Raja gets that right. The story shifts to the rural setting in the latter hour and Sreenu Gavireddy's firm understanding of small-town eccentricities, sentiments, sarcasm and rural politics benefits the film immensely. The sequences around the rooster fights are hilarious in particular.

Ajay, Aadukalam Naren and a good bunch of sidekicks make their presence felt in the rural setting and deliver what's expected of them. Needless to say, Raj Tarun is in terrific form in a loud, flashy character with misplaced priorities. The character has a few shades of grey and the actor handles its psychological transformation with composure and maturity. 

Stories around panchayat elections in villages may not be new to Telugu cinema. Bangarraju does everything to become a sarpanch but a tragic event changes his life beyond repair. The story tricks you about a culprit that Bangarraju's character is after and the climax does offer a mild surprise. Anubhavinchu Raja is an apt title for the story revolving around a character who takes time to understand what 'anubhavinchadam' truly means. 

Kashish Khan looks confident, assured in her debut. Television Ravi Krishna impresses in a brief but crucial role. The likes of Temper Vamsi, Aadharsh Balakrishna, Ariyana are passable in minor parts. It's Aadukalam Naren's presence that adds another layer of depth and authenticity to the story, while Ajay means business while he lasts. 

Gopi Sundar's album and background hits all the right notes and doubles the energy in the ambience. Cinematographer Nagesh Banell gets an opportunity to showcase his versatility in handling two different visual backdrops. If there are a few people the film couldn't have done without, it's Raj Tarun and the one-film old director Sreenu Gavireddy. The film rides on their shoulders and the duo does everything to ensure that the outing remains entertaining and doesn't lose track of the plot. 

Verdict:

Anubhavinchu Raja may not be pathbreaking or offer anything out of the box, but is a paisa vasool entertainer that delivers a bang for your buck. It was about time that Raj Tarun hit form again and he does a fine job in an entertaining script that milks his potential. The supporting cast comprising Aadukalam Naren, Ajay, Sudharshan is efficient. A good family watch this!