Naa Saami Ranga movie review: Nagarjuna is the redeeming factor

Kishtayya falls in love with the village lender’s (Rao Ramesh) daughter, Varalakshmi (Ashika Ranganadh). Their affair is opposed by the lender strongly, and he commits suicide trying to prevent his daughter from leaving the house to marry Kishtayya. Guilty Varalu doesn’t marry Kishtayya, and they both remain single and lovers, pining and waiting, for each other most of their lives.

The love affair between Bhaskar (Raj Tarun) from Ambajipeta and Jaggannapeta‘s president’s daughter creates new problems. Kishtayya and Anji support Bhaskar, while Peddayya’s sons support the other village as they have to settle old scores with Kishtayya. Kishtayya’s sworn enemy in this whole drama is Dasu (Shabbir). What happens to this hostility and whether Kishtayya will finally unite with Varalu forms the rest of the story.

Most of the first half tries to establish Naa Saami Ranga as a true Sankranthi film with lots of village customs and rustic entertainment. The episode narrating Kishtayya’s old love story feels completely dated and unrealistic. Anji’s first night woes also add to the feeling. The macho Sankranthi Nagarjuna feels ok, but it never reaches the level of Soggade… movies.

The tempo slightly picks up only after the arrival of the main villain Dasu. The emotional core focuses on the bond between Anji and Kishtayya, and when it finally connects, it is mostly due to Naresh’s act. Little more screen time for their bond could have made it more effective. It is the family man, friend and loyal confidant Nagarjuna that scores over the lover in this story. The ending tweaked to suit the Telugu audience and the festival mood feels ok.

The film has rich visuals. The songs could have been better. The usual Prasanna dialogue punches are absent. Vijay Binni succeeds as a first-time director. There is nothing much to find fault with his work. The choice of this dated story and writing, mostly can be attributed to Nagarjuna and the producers.

Ashika Ranganadh delivered the goods. Nagarjuna seemed ill at ease in a few dance sequences and fights. Allari Naresh did a good job. Raj Tharun’s role had limited scope. Shabbir impressed with his lecherous villainy act. Myrna felt wasted in the ill-conceived character. Though the last release in this festival week, Nagarjuna may satisfy more audiences in comparison with Mahesh Babu and Venkatesh. After Hanu Man, Naa Saami Ranga may find more takers this Sankranthi.

Naa Saami Ranga movie cast: Nagarjuna, Allari Naresh, Raj Tharun, Ashika Ranganadh, Shabbir, Nasser
Naa Saami Ranga movie director: Vijay Binni
Naa Saami Ranga movie rating: 2 stars