The much awaited Telugu film 'Jai Bolo Telangana' -- based on the ongoing movement for separate statehood to Telangana -- hit the screens Friday across Andhra Pradesh. Telangana supporters hailed the movie for espousing the cause of Telangana and hoped that it would provide further impetus to the movement.
A festive atmosphere prevailed in Telangana towns as activists of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and other groups reached movie theatres to watch the first show. TRS Chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao, Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) convenor M. Kodandaram and others watched the movie along with Shankar at Sudershan theatre here. Rao, who appears in a scene in the movie, urged people to watch the movie. 'I am confident that after watching this movie, people of all regions will understand the hopes and aspirations of Telangana people and will support the genuine cause,' said TRS chief. The movie, which faced few cuts from censor board, was released after pro-Telangana groups threaten to stage protests against the delay. Some groups forced managements of theatres in many places in Telangana to stop screening other movies and show 'Jai Bolo Telangana'. The story of the movie, which also features popular TV actress Smrithi Irani in a key role, revolves around a young man whose forefathers died for separate Telangana state. He falls in love with a girl from Vijayawada (Andhra region).
Revolutionary balladeer Gaddar, a key Telangana protagonist, also played a brief role by singing a song in his inimitable style. Director N Shankar is known for bringing out some revolutionary films and this time, he has chosen to mould the current struggle for a separate Telangana state.
Read on for Jai Bolo Telangana review.
Story:
Jayamma (Smriti Irani) is a kind hearted woman, whose husband Bandagi Gopanna (Jagapatih Babu) has sacrificed his life for the sake of Telangana movement. Not only Gopanna, but also his grand father laid down his life in Telangana Raitanga Sayudha Poratam, and Gopanna’s father also fought the Nizam rulers and lost his life for the Telangana people.
Performance:
The director has succeeded in highlighting the emotions of the people of Telangana and the audiences could identify themselves with the Telangana movement in the film. The director has included some commercial elements in the film like love thread keeping entertainiment factor in mind. Though, he has tried to highlight the Telangana movement, he has not able to explain clearly on how the Telangana people are cheated by the people of other regions.
Verdict:
As a whole, Jai Bolo Telangana is meant for the people of Telangana and for them alone. The film would definitely become a hit in Telangana region, but there will not be any takers for such subject in other regions like Andhra and Rayalaseema. `Jai Bolo Telangana,' the controversial movie on Telangana struggle, was finally cleared by the censor board on Thursday, but surprisingly with an `A' certificate. Meanwhile, earlier during the day lawyers from Telangana region staged a protest at the Central Board of Film Certification's (CBFC) Hyderabad regional office at Masab Tank demanding that the film be cleared without any delay. With director Shankar agreeing to the cuts, the film is set for release on February 4. People will not watch Jai Bolo Telangana if it is just a historical depiction of the poor and the weak people in the Telangana region.
The story begins with a television reporter questioning the history and support of Jayamma (Smriti Irani) to the Telangana struggle and the director encapsulates the contribution and sacrifice of the family spanning three generations to the movement.
The film luckily doesn't appear like a documentary, the love story and every incident and an event has a Telangana angle attached to it. Every time AVS asks what were to happen if Telangana fructifies, a supporting cast pacifies him with examples and tells him that Telangana will never become a reality. The story shows Andhra people as traitors, stealing them of their land, jobs, being partial to their own people (Andhra) addressing them as "Manollu".
Apart from the story, you have a half-hearted Telangana dialect, the tradition, customs like Bathukamma festival, the warmth of Telangana people who serve kodi pulusu to hungry visitors. Will Jai Bolo Telangana be as potent as the politicians and activists who want to the State to be divided? . Just appreciate the film as a piece of art!
