‘Guntur Kaaram’ movie review: Mahesh Babu delivers the same old dish, served with an extra dose of chillies
“Guntur Kaaram” is a 2024 Indian Telugu-language action drama film written and directed by Trivikram Srinivas. Produced by S. Radha Krishna through Haarika & Hassine Creations, the film stars Mahesh Babu, Sreeleela, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Ramya Krishna, Jayaram, Prakash Raj, and Jagapathi Babu.
Synopsis: The story follows Veera Venkata Ramana, played by Mahesh Babu, the son of Satyam and Vasundhara. The film takes a dramatic turn when conflicts arise among family members, including characters portrayed by Ramya Krishnan, Jayaram, Prakash Raj, and Jagapathi Babu.
Cast:
- Mahesh Babu as Veera Venkata Ramana, son of Satyam and Vasundhara
- Sreeleela as Amulya “Ammu,” daughter of Pani
- Meenakshi Chaudhary as Raji, Ramana’s cousin
- Ramya Krishnan as Vasundhara, daughter of Venkata Swamy and Ramana’s mother
- Jayaram as Satyam, Vasundhara’s husband and Ramana’s father
- Prakash Raj as Venkata Swamy, Vasundhara’s father and Ramana’s grandfather
- Jagapathi Babu as Marx, Lenin’s brother
- Rao Ramesh as Narayana, Vasundhara’s second husband and Ramana’s uncle
- Easwari Rao as Bujji, Satyam’s sister
- Murali Sharma as Pani, father of Ammu
- Sunil as Lenin, Marx’s brother
- Vennela Kishore as Balu
- Rahul Ravindran as Gopal, Vasundhara’s son and Ramana’s step-brother
- P. Ravi Shankar as Kata Madhu
- Brahmaji
- Madhusudhan Rao
- Ajay Ghosh as Hari Das
- Ajay as Gelatin Babji
- Mahesh Achanta
- Raghu Babu
Production:
Development:
- Trivikram Srinivas, known for successful collaborations with Mahesh Babu and Pooja Hegde, officially announced their collaboration in May 2021 under the tentative title SSMB28.
- The project, initially promoted as an action thriller, faced conflicts among crew members and the cast after the first schedule, leading to script rework and transformation into a family entertainer.
- The official title “Guntur Kaaram” was revealed in May 2023.
Casting:
- Pooja Hegde was initially cast as the lead actress but had to opt out due to schedule conflicts. Sreeleela then took over the lead role, and Meenakshi Chaudhary was cast in the second role.
- Ramya Krishna, Prakash Raj, Jayaram, and Jagapathi Babu joined the cast in various roles.
Filming:
- Principal photography began on 12 September 2022, featuring an action sequence in Annapurna Studios, Hyderabad.
- After conflicts and script modifications, the second schedule started on 18 January 2023 in Sarathi Studios, Hyderabad.
- Filming included constructing a house set at Shankarpalli, Telangana, and faced a change in cinematographer from P. S. Vinod to Manoj Paramahamsa.
- Principal photography concluded on 28 December 2023.
Music:
- Thaman S composed the film’s soundtrack album and background score in collaboration with Mahesh Babu for the fifth time and Trivikram Srinivas for the third time.
- The soundtrack includes singles like “Dum Masala,” “Oh My Baby,” “Kurchi Madathapetti,” and “Mawaa Enthaina.”
- Released in 2024 under the label Aditya Music, the music received attention for its catchy tunes.
Release:
- “Guntur Kaaram” hit theaters worldwide on 12 January 2024, coinciding with Sankranti.
- The film received generally negative reviews from critics, with particular praise for Mahesh Babu’s energetic performance.