Date:30/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/30/stories/2008113050240200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

No novelty, no comedy

Film: Ek Police

Cast: Naga Babu, Lakshna

Direction: Kodi Ramakrishna

‘Ek Police’ undoubtedly as the title suggests is the saga of one and only wise and ruthless police official played by Naga Babu. The film begins in a college campus where the principal, students and the lecturers are introduced. One professor who is held in esteem is Satyamurthy (Prithvi). He is always seen questioning the wrong doers, talks for democracy but is ultimately stabbed and burnt alive in broad daylight. This scene is captured on a mobile phone by his student Madhuri (Gayatri Rao) and she along with her friends give it to Naga Babu hoping he would nab the criminals and bring them to justice.

There is a parallel story of two groups of goondas competing for supremacy. Both these groups have a with the politicians and one group kidnaps Madhuri. The students approach Naga Babu for help again and this time he pretends to use the images on the mobile phone to obtain Madhuri’s release. The students and his subordinates are disgusted as Naga Babu turns out to be just another corrupt police working out a deal with the goons.

The first half of the film is racy and interesting with some interesting dialogues and the hero chips in good performance. Post interval, the narration slows down. Ali’s episode is a bit too lengthy.

A monologue from Siva Prasad draws applause. Gayatri Rao, who made her debut in ‘Happy Days’, doesn’t get a meaty role here.

The movie has no novel point, hardly any comedy and is made with the upcoming elections in view but the director intersperses it with enough masala to keep it going.

This drama has all the ingredients meant for B and C class audiences.

Y. SUNITA CHOWDHARY