Director Mahesh Babu’s ‘Andhra King Taluka’ tells the story of a superstar and his superfan in a semi-urban setting. The story is set in the late ’90s. It begins with superstar Surya (Upendra), who, after a string of flops is trying to make a comeback with his 100th film.
Sagar (Ram Pothineni), Surya’s diehard fan, falls for his classmate Mahalakshmi (Borse), the daughter of Purushottam (Murali Sharma), a theatre owner in a backward village in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. Purushottam is not happy about his daughter’s choice and repeatedly humiliates Sagar. Insulted, Sagar vows to build his own theatre, and decides to inaugurate it when Surya’s 100th film drops, even as Surya struggles to complete the project.
Will Surya complete his film? Will Sagar construct the theatre? Will Purushottam consent to Sagar and Mahalakshmi’s wedding? The film explores intricate human relationships as it tries to answer these questions.
The first half sets up the story pretty well, but the second half feels a bit dragged out. Some scenes come across as forced affecting the narration. The story becomes predictable post-interval. However, impactful performances, evocative scenes, appealing visuals and lingering songs compensate.
Attempts to build a theatre in a remote village which lacks road infrastructure defies logic. Though execution of the plot falters at times, the climax makes up for it.
Cinematographers Siddhartha Nuni and George C Williams beautifully capture the essence of village life — river banks, bylanes, processions, feverish energy of fans and theatre posters of the Godavari belt.
Pothineni’s portrayal of a young man torn between loyalty and self-respect is top-notch. Borse’s restrained acting is impressive. Upendra and Rao are convincing in their roles.
Despite flaws, ‘Andhra King Taluka’ keeps viewers engaged and entertained.