Boyapati Sreenu never surprises his audience as far as violence, blood and gore is concerned in his movies. And he does the same this time, too. The director’s mark in Jaya Janaki Nayaka (JJJ) is established in the opening scene itself, leaving you with no doubt with what to expect.
JJJ has too many characters — some complex, some quirky — who meld together to take the proceedings forward.
Gagan (Bellamkonda Srinivas) is business magnate Chakravarty’s (Sarath) son, who can’t tolerate anyone harassing women, but is cold when girls make advances towards him. Sweety aka Janaki (Rakul Preet) succeeds in sowing the seeds of love in Gagan’s heart.
His father and brother (Nandu) appear from nowhere whenever Gagan is engaged in bloody skirmishes and bash up the guys. Later, you see them drinking together in their palatial mansion and in the very next scene you see them gorging on Indian pakodas (fried snacks) from a roadside stall.
Meanwhile, Ashwit Narayana Sarma (Jagapati Babu) is another businessman for whom family honour and prestige matters above all things; and to preserve it he goes to any illogical lengths.
Added to the mix is Arjun Pawar (Tarun Arora) the unscrupulous liquor baron who is bent on clinching the ambitious national highway construction project, which Ashwit Narayana is also vying for. Mahendra Verma (Suman) plays the dirty politician who has a sinister plan to get even with Chakavarty and his sons as they had bashed up his son in the opening scene of the film.
The two baddies unite baying for each other’s blood against their common enemy.
The drama brews in the background as Gagan falls in love (well it’s the other way round) with Sweety. But her father, the government official tasked with awarding the prestigious road contract, refuses to marry his daughter into a family that ‘eats pakodas on the roadside’.
Pawar seeks Sweety’s hand for his brother so as to get the contract through this alliance while Ashwit Narayan wants her as his daughter-in-law for the same reason.
A rejected and dejected Gagan is sent to a different city so he could overcome his loss but by strange twist of fate he comes across the lady he loved who is battling demons of her own.
The rest is how Ashwit Narayana struggles to maintain his ‘family honour’ by distancing the lovers and Pawar trying to kidnap Sweety.
An otherwise good story has been marred by too much violence. Earlier, Boyapati’s hero used to fight scores of baddies single-handedly, but in JJJ he tackles with his bare hands hundreds of them armed to the teeth.
The saving grace is Preet’s intense portrayal as a bubbly girl-turned-despondent woman. Bellamkonda appeals in emotional scenes and fight sequences. Pragya Jaiswal of Kanche fame has a cameo role but impresses with her native speak as a Vizag lass. Vani Vishwanath, the Malayalee actress who had done quite a few Telugu film in the late 80s and early 90s, reappears in a small role of no consequence.
Devisri Prasad composed a few good songs, including Nuvvele Nuvvele, Rangu Rangu Kallajodu, Veede Veede by Kailash Kher and the item song A for Appilu, are good.
Out now
Film: Jaya Janaki Nayaka (Telugu)
Cast: Bellamkonda Srinivas, Rakul Preet, Sarath, Jagapati Babu, Suman, Nandu, Pragya Jaiswal
Director: Boyapati Sreenu
Running time: 149 minutes
Rating: PG15
Stars: 2 out of 5
