YAMADONGA CREATES A NEW RECORD IN FIRST WEEK COLLECTIONS

IS THERE A DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO BADMOUTH YAMADONGA?

Yamadonga couldn't have come at a more opportune moment for Junior NTR. And the actor who hasn't given a creditable hit in recent years is basking in the unusual success of Yamadonga. And he deserves every bit of the masses' adoration. For, he has taken his life seriously, meticulously planned his career, shunted out the woman, Sameera Reddy, who has managed to rub her jinx on him for a while, and most importantly, shed those extra kilos to look young and trim. Of course, he has to thank Chiranjeevi for having made a lousy remake of Lage Raho Munnabhai, for his film's resounding success.

As Shankardada Zindabad bites the dust, and Ram Charan Teja's Chirutha gets ready for release, the success of Yamadonga seems to be sending the shivers down the collective spines of the Chiranjeevi camp followers. And, we hear, that some people are already spreading malicious rumours that Yamadonga is an average grosser, and that it wouldn't last for long in the theatres. But the collections have an entirely different story to narrate.

All this badmouthing is done with a purpose: if Yamadonga goes on to become a rip-roaring hit, as it is already showing signs of moving in that direction, there wouldn't be any theatres left for the release of Chirutha. Poor Chiranjeevi though that his Shankardada Zindabad would go on to become another Lage Raho Munnabhai cutting an emotional chord with the masses. And that his son, Ram Charan Teja, could ride on the crest of its success, with the release of his film Chirutha, following soon after.

But Chiranjeevi's calculations have not only gone woefully awry, but now, NTR has become a new thorn in his side, or rather on his son's side. And so begins the exercise to downgrade the film. This is not only meant to scare the distributors but also create a space for his son who, despite all the pomp and show, surrounding the film is spending sleepless nights.

Well, Ram Charan, don't get restless over your lack of sleep, you would have to spend many more sleepless nights in the days to come.

YAMADONGA IS A GOOD ENTERTAINER FOR THE FRONT-BENCHERS, BUT WHAT IS SO NEW ABOUT IT?

It takes guts to make a movie based on Yamalokam, especially when everyone of us is familiar with such themes. First it was the Senior NTR, who essayed a phenomenal performance as the odd man out in Yamalokam, in Yamagola, so much so, that it has gone on to become a milestone in Telugu cinema. Later S V KRishna Reddy managed to recreate the magic with Ali in Yamaleela. Of course, it turned out to be a xeroxed version of the original with the mother sentiment thrown in. In between, Chiranjeevi too did his own version of the theme which became a runaway success. And now director S S Rajamouli treads the beaten track with Junior NTR as the man who has Yama Dharmaraju in a fix. And, we must say, it was a good effort on the part of Rajamouli to dish out an out-and-out entertainer.

Like all themes go, there is not much to talk about the theme. Death plays the villain in the life of Raja, who is unable to cash in on his big theft, as the guy who gets the job done is dead before he can pay NTR his reward. So, he starts cursing Yama Dharmaraja, who decides to right the wrongs.

And so goes the movie. An entertainer, it has some phenomenal dialogues between Mohan Babu and Junior NTR. The film has some wonderful graphic wonders which bring about the two NTRs -- the junior and senior -- in one sequence. It is an amazing effort, and the film will be talked about more for this than for anything else.

Then there are the ladies -- the more the merrier seems to be Rajamouli's policy -- to add that glam quotient to the film.

But we must say that it is a pure entertainer, and Rajamouli doesn't seem to have enough time to devote to the story and the screenplay. He only seems to concentrate on the Yamalokam scenes to the neglect of the theme. Anyway, if you can leave your mind back at home, which you should always do when you go to watch a Telugu film, it will entertain. If not, perish the thought of watching the film.

HE IS AN UNUSUAL THIEF, HE ROBS YAMALOK: CHECK OUT NTR'S ANTICS IN YAMADONGA

DALER MEHNDI LENDS HIS VOICE TO JUNIOR NTR IN YAMADONGA

The Bolo Tara Tara fame, Daler Mehndi, has caught the fancy of Tollywood now. He has sung a song for the NTR-starrer Yamadonga. The song goes like this "Nuvvante padi padi chasta...". The picturisation of the song is currently underway in Hyderabad. We don't know for sure which heroine is featured in the song opposite NTR. For currently, there are two leading ladies in the film -- Priyamani and Mamata Mohandas. The Bhangra/pop singer has sung in Telugu for the first film. Already there are huge expectations from the film, and S S Rajamouli and NTR are keen on making this film a hit at any cost. For both of them, who are facing a rough patch, this film is an acid test. So they are not taking any chances at all, and are ensuring there is novelty in the songs, in the dialogues and in the picturisation. We hear that some real dialogues with some real punch have been written for the film. And NTR has really done some hard work to make it a rabble rouser. Meanwhile, Daler Mehndi has recently come out with a new album after quite a gap. And, we hear, the album is catching up fast. Let's hope he will sing many songs to come in the Telugu film industry.

AMRITA RAO GOES APPEASING THE GODS ON HER BIRTHDAY, AND SHE CLAIMS IT WAS A THANKSGIVING FOR WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN HER!!

It was time to appease the gods for Amrita Rao, the heroine of Athidi, opposite Mahesh Babu, who turned 26 recently. The gal, who loves to party and is getting into the groove of late, went visiting visiting Shirdi with her uncle and his family, instead of grooving her way to glory. The bubbly gal, who was also said to be acting in Ram Charan Teja's second film to be directed by S S Rajamouli, however, tells us, that it was more important to be with the family and pray for what God has given her than go partying. And, mind you, it was the same gal, who has been complaining that she didn't have time to go partying in New York. What a contradiction, Amritaji? When you are abroad, you put on your wildest best, but when you are in India, with your parents, you give all those conservative talk. But, it has been one helluva birthday party for her. The actress says that she has been inundated with SMSes, phone calls and greetings from fans, who just wouldn't stop wishing her. But she is one actress, we must admit, who gives credit wherever it is due. And she has rightfully been saying that all the credit for her popularity goes to Vivah, which has paved her career with gold.

RAMBHA CREATES A STORM IN THE NETHERWORLD, YAMA SWEARS TO TAKE HER TO TASK!!

She's hot. She's sexy. She's Rambha. She still has the figure that makes the people drool over her asking for more, but unfortunately, the south Indian filmmakers think that she is past her prime. And are not even touching her with a barge pole. Poor Rambha, tried everything to make a comeback in the Telugu film industry. But none of them would work. Meanwhile, she's blazing a trail in Bhojpuri film industry, but hasn't lost hope yet. So, Tollywood filmmakers have decided to give her one more chance. No, not as a heroine, she can't even dream of being a heroine anymore. They want to cash in on her assets, which are no less than Mumaith Khan's, and cast her as an item girl. Now, that is a good bargain for the buxom babe, to oooooooooooooooze her ooooooooooomph on the silver screen. In fact, she gets to shed all those clothes, which she is yearning to, and make a sexy impact on the minds of the people. So, right now, she is busy shooting with Junior in Yamadonga, in the item number we told you about, and we hear she has been setting the studio on fire with her gorgeous curves. Now, that would be a right mix in an NTR film to give the kicks to his fans.

RAM CHARAN TEJA'S PLANNING COMMISSION GETS UNDERWAY: S S RAJAMOULI ROPED IN TO DO TEJA'S SECOND FILM JUST IN CASE...

The spotlight is on him. His every move has been making news. And he hasn't uttered a word ever since he announced his desire to put on the grease paint. He is the heir of a great tradition set by his father Chiranjeevi. Following the footsteps of the megastar, Pavan Kalyan and Allu Arjun have created a niche for themselves in the Telugu film industry. But it is just the tip of the iceberg. The real mantle falls on him now -- Ram Charan Teja. All eyes are on him. Will he blaze a trail like his father? That only time will tell which is not far away.

In the meanwhile, all the top directors are vying with one another to work with him. Or conversely, Chiranjeevi is making the right moves to ensure that his son's future is paved with gold. And he has rightly put Teja's future in Puri Jagannath's hands with Chirutha as the launch vehicle. And this is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because Puri is presently riding the crest of success unknown in the history of Telugu cinema with the stupenduous success of Pokiri, followed by Desamuduru. And all he has to do is ensure that it is a decent film and the market will take care of the rest. On the other hand, since Puri's popularity is hovering in the stratosphere, and the expectations from Teja, too, hovering at the same place, even a minor hiccup in the film is going to bring their soaring popularities crashing down like a house of cards. And it will prove to be a disaster for the careers of both Teja and Puri.

Chiranjeevi seems to have correctly read the situation. And so he has okayed Teja's second film with the currently-in-demand director S S Rajamouli. Now, Rajamouli is known for giving his heroes a larger-than-life image, especially NTR and Prabhas, who have become the current favourites of Telugu cinema partly because of him.

Therefore, realising that Rajamouli can feel the pulse of the masses, Chiranjeevi has decided to make Teja's second film under the Geeta Arts baner with hium. And, what more, the cutie pie of Bollywood, who has become the darling of Bollywood after the stupendous success of Vivah, and who is currently doing Adithi with Mahesh Babu, Amrita Rao, has been selected as the heroine.

Amrita Rao too seems to have been taken given the craze she has already achieved thanks to her casting in Atidhi.

Ram Charan Teja currently is in Bangkok busy with the shooting of Chirutha. But going by the way his every move is being meticulously planned by his father, it looks another super director may be roped in to make it a complete threesome of films, before his first film is released. Will it be a perfect 3, Mr Chiranjeevi?