Banagaru Babu is a good movie and can be watched with family (no kids) if one is comfortable with a couple of double entendres, just a couple of them. A huge plus of this movie is that it has no item songs - a staple feature in Telugu movies. The movie also boosts of no vulgar display of skin - thanks to the director and the heroine Meera Jasmine.
Moreover, the movie deals with two issues: drug addiction and a social problem affecting many families in Andhra Pradesh. It deals with the first one amateurishly and the treatment of the second one is done professionally.
When a father errs, and it's human to err, his children have to pay the price if he is not alive. Jagapati Babu performs with perfection the role of a conscientious son. He personifies understanding, goodness, and duty that is typical of our Indian heroes. But as he pays off for the sins committed by his father there is resistance from his own family members. He endures everything and prods on to make amends for the mistake his father had committed.
J Srinivasa Rao does a good job with direction though he has not been able to portray the problem of drug addiction to the fullest satisfaction. Usually, from the word go, movies focus on the leading character's family or his childhood. Interestingly, the movie starts with the story of the side hero Sashank. Sashank has done a good job as a wronged son. Meera Jasmine has done a decent job at acting with whatever role she is given. It is nice to see a heroine emoting more with the eyes and less with the skin. The selection of Shayaji Shinde as a villain raises the question - are we not prepared to take any new actors to do negative roles. Definitely there must be a lot of aspiring actors, why not try them out.
The movie has some catchy tunes. The movie will get steady crowds and prove that: item songs do not get the audience, good and socially relevant story does.
Critic: Kishore
(2.5 / 5) : Above Average