Date:08/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/08/stories/2007120859140200.htm

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Andhra Pradesh

More bark than bite

NEW INNINGS: Vaibhav, Shraddha in ‘Godava’.

Film: Godava

Cast: Vaibhav, Shraddha Arya

Director: A. Kodandarami Reddy

The director who has a history of handling 97 films dishes out a debut film for his son Vaibhav.

Godava looks like an endlessly recycled and diluted love story that spells confusion and lacks clarity.

If he had chosen a better script and a better dialogue writer, Vaibhav would have had the best launch of the year but the director at least gives this character some personality and gumption to offset some of the stereotypical elements.

Shraddha Arya too makes a promising debut.

Vaibhav imitates Pavan Kalyan and Ravi Teja many a time but he does it with confidence. Perhaps and by evolving a style of his own, he would have done better.

Intensity in love between the pair never really shows up but the saving factor for the hero is his great spirit and some good dance and music.

Godava begins with the heroine pinching every exposed waist in town… male or female and in this process targets the ‘forbidden’ waist....that of the villain and from then onwards it’s difficulties galore for the lissom beauty.

The villain disappears all of a sudden and the hero doesn’t quite fall in love till post interval.

Because he thinks true love doesn’t exist and the best example being his constantly squabbling parents. The misconception remains till he sees his father bawling for his injured mother at the hospital.

Chalapati Rao and Rajeswari give you a headache, Venu Madhav is not funny, Brahmanandam plays the role of a lecturer and his episode is in poor taste.

If there is anything that needs to be mentioned is the title (it has more bark than bite) that is justified and Vaibhav’s confident performance.

Y. SUNITA CHOWDHARY