India, Oct. 12 -- Film: Makkhi
Cast: Sudeep, Samantha Prabhu, Naveen Direction: S S Rajamouli
Genre: Drama
Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes Plot: Nani (Nani) is a young man who makes fireworks. He lives in a house opposite Bindu (Samantha), who is a micro artist and who also runs Project 511, an NGO. Nani is in in love with Bindu for two years and has been constantly showing his love for Bindu. Bindu too loves Nani back but plays hard to get and hides her love from him.
Meanwhile, Sudeep (Sudeep) is a multi-millionaire industrialist who also happens to be a womaniser. He had even killed his wife for her money. One day, Bindu goes to Sudeep's office to see if he would like to donate money to her NGO. Sudeep is about to send her away, until he sees Bindu through the opening of his office door. He immediately lusts for her. When Nani gets to know about this, he tells Sudeep that if he goes anywhere near Bindu, he will kill him. At this, Sudeep strangles Nani to death, right after Bindu tells Nani she loves him through a text and a phone call. Upon hearing that Bindu loves him too, Nani dies. But then, he is reborn as a fly and takes revenge with Sudeep.
Here's what the critics are saying:
Mayank Shekhar, Daily Bhaskar
Rating: 2
We're in the sort of fictional world where laws and police don't matter. The villain can get away with murder. He can bed any woman he wants, and kill whoever he wishes to. He's a top construction builder after all. In such a gloomy scenario, you will agree, rebirth can be the only way to right the wrongs.
This film is also a regional love story. So you know that stalking the heroine is going to be the accepted form of romance. The hero talks to the heroine from outside the house, she can hear him from her bed. He is a next-door neighbour. After two years of keeping him waiting, the girl he fancies finally accepts she's in love with him. This should be great news for the hero. It isn't. The villain is obsessed with the same girl. He instantly beats the hero up and stabs him to death.
A little fly taking on a mighty villain is of course the kind leap of faith that's thoroughly entertaining to start with. You root for this champion makkhi, who builds his body doing weights on ear-buds, wears cool goggles, and no repellents can destroy him. The idea is instantly warm and funny. You want the fly to win with flying colours. Lots of hooting and whistling is in order. How long does this amusement last, and to what extent can you stretch this wonderful premise is sadly another matter altogether.
One of the reasons to explain the immense hype around this flick is that it has already proven to be a huge hit down South. Nothing succeeds like excess, and that is usually the trademark of several South Indian blockbusters that are often way over-the-top for those not used to the idiom. Scenes and performances are supposed to jar by the loudness of it all. The value of a movie ticket is also related to the length of films - "paisa vasool" equals at least close to three hours in the AC. Often when the same box-office successes are remade into Hindi with top Bollywood action stars, the films crack open crores in their opening weekends.
Verdict: In its original, tacky, raw form, it just goes on and on and on.
Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama
Ratings: 4/5
Makkhi, the dubbed Hindi version of the Telugu blockbuster hit Eega, does exactly that. Original, inventive, innovative and imaginative, Makkhi raises the bar of films made in India. At a time when most dream merchants in Bollywood are concentrating on mindless entertainers that kiss goodbye to logic, Rajamouli strikes the right balance between logic and entertainment in Makkhi. The scale of the film is colossal, the plot is invigorating and the outcome leaves you mesmerized. Rajamouli targets not just the kids, but the kid in every adult and you can't help but root for the fly as it seeks vengeance from the cold-blooded and hardhearted assassin. On the whole, Makkhi is a landmark film. You ought to watch certain films in your lifetime. Makkhi is one of those films. For choosing a crackling idea, for executing it with panache and for taking Indian cinema to the next level, I doff my hat to you, Mr. S.S. Rajamouli.
Verdict: Rajamouli strikes the right balance between logic and entertainment in Makkhi.
Shomini Sen, Zee News
Rating: 3
This one could easily be passed off as yet another south Indian pot boiler had it not have a fly as its protagonist. And Makkhi scores simply because someone had the brainwave to think of a film from a house fly's perspective.
In spite of its absurdities, the film narrates a hilarious tale of a how a reincarnated housefly envisages to seek revenge and protects a human from another human. The moments where the antagonist is tormented by a fly to such extent that he insists on sleeping with an insect repellent in one hand makes for a good laugh.
The film has some brilliant animation which has the ability to think from a housefly's perspective. The first few scenes when Jaani reincarnates himself and reborn as a fly and discovers the world and surrounding around him is simply brilliant. Everything, including a small little tennis ball seems magnified because we get to look at a world from a fly's perspective.
Verdict: Watch it for its uniqueness. The new age hero of Indian cinema will not disappoint you - in fact it will make you think twice before you swat that irritating fly hovering over your nose.
Meena Iyer, Times of India
Rating: 3/5
Makkhi, earlier released in July 2012 Telegu as Eega and Tamil as Naan ee reached the 100-cr mark in those markets so quickly that it automatically lent itself to being dubbed in Hindi.
Though the plot is for the most-part predictable, Makkhi still offers situations that are truly gleeful to the young and the old alike. For once, the hero of this film, the fly, a common irritant in all our lives, enjoys our empathy instead of getting our wrath. His quest for revenge, somehow becomes our own battle for justice. As Rajamouli's animated character goes about his business of destroying Sudeep and protecting Bindu; the viewer is ready to willingly go along for the ride. Here one say, had the ride been 15 minutes shorter, it would have been that much more racier. The portion involving a tantrik is pure hog-wash and more suited to a B-grade horror film than here.
But this is a minor irritant in an otherwise enjoyable film.
Ironical it is, that the animated makkhi is so full of life, that he doesn't ever make you miss the presence of a beefy Khan, Kapoor or Kumar. The animation is on par with some of the best in the West and Rajamouli's characterisation of the fly is to be seen to be believed. Makkhi dances as well as Hrithik Roshan and rides as good as Ajay Devgn; mouths dialogue like superstar Rajinikanth and even challenges his rivals to a combat.
Verdict: An enjoyable film
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Published by HT Syndication with permission from Hindustan Times.