Producer: Cherry, Urmila Gangaraju
Director: Rajamouli SS
Cast: Mohanbabu, NTR, Priyamani, Mamta Mohandas
Music: Keeravani M M

It is one of the most awaited films to watch out for this season. ‘Yamadonga’ is special in the sense that it brings the pair of NTR and SS Rajamouli together after three years. The team has formerly delivered blockbusters like ‘Student No.1’ and ‘Simhadri’. ‘Yamadonga’ is very different from their pervious works. It is a socio-fantasy film inspired from an old 1983 Mohanlal film from Malayalam titled ‘Pappan Priyapetta Pappan’.

The positive aspects of the film are NTR’s new look and a stellar performance by Mohan Babu. Also the songs and background score of MM Keeravani is worth hearing. The first half of the film is a treat because of the entertainment factor and tout technicality.

Raja (NTR) is an orphan and a ruthless robber. His aim in life is to earn fast money so that he can settle down as soon as possible. The opportunity to unleash his dreams soon comes true. Mahi (Priyamani), a beautiful and rich heiress, falls in love with him. Mahi has always considered him to her prince charming and has been in love with him since their young days. But Raja doesn’t harness same feelings for her. He plans to submit her to a gang who wants to kill her for her riches. Things don’t turn out as expected and the villains smelling foul, kill him.

Raja reaches Yamaloka. Here he steals Yamapasam and this create further confusion in Yamaloka as whoever possess Yamapasam will become Yama. The film moves with Yama (Mohan Babu) and Raja trying to outsmart each other. Yama regains his power back and sends Raja back to earth, but only to take away his life once again.

NTR comes like a fresh breeze with this film looking slender and trim. Also his high energy that he enthuses in every screen frame cannot be missed. He delivers with superiority in all histrionics departments. His screen presence is evident in delivering emotions, sentiment, love, action or dance. Mohan Babu as Yama is a revelation and has done a superlative work. He also gets into romancing and this is the first time the Telugu audience will witness something such. His punch-filled dialogue delivery is striking.

Mamta Mohandas does her job well. In this glam role she is fine. In the second half she delivers good performance as Yama in the guise of a woman. There is ample scope fro her to exhibit her talent in all prospects. Priyamani as an innocent girl is good. Brahmanandam as Chitragupta steals the comedy part and delivers a hilarious performance. Rajiv Kanakala as Indra, Ali as the hero's friend, MS Narayana, Jayaprakash Reddy as the villain and Siva Parvati as the mother-in-law are fine.

Editing is good in the first part but the second part needs some more trimming. The songs are good and have been picturised well. But they come as speed-breakers at regular intervals in interesting parts. Special effects are upto mark. Senthil Kumar’s cinematography is superlative.