When Prithviraj, the original director behind the hit Malayalam film "Lucifer" (2019), on which Godfather is based, was asked who he would pick from Tollywood to play the main character essayed by Mohanlal in the original, he was quick to point to Chiranjeevi. Perhaps no other actor has brought to screen larger-than-life massy heroes on screen than the legendary superstar, with mega-blockbusters like "Mutha Mestri (1993)" and "Indra (2002)" still revered by audiences. In that respect, Ram Charan pulled off a major coup in acquiring the remake rights of Lucifer, understanding that the role is tailor-made to play to his father's strengths.
The megastar plays "Brahma" an astute political operator and heir-apparent to the Chief Minister who passes away abrupts, leaving behind a power vacuum and a slew of political opportunists who want to make hay while the sun shines. The CM's son-in-law Jai (Satyadev) as well as the Home Minister, Verma (Murali Sharma) lead a faction that will stop at nothing to ensure Brahma doesn't grab power and the ensuing political machinations, treachery and violence form the rest of the story. Director Mohan Raja builds on the original source material rather than copying it frame by frame, delivering more mass elevation sequences suitable for the superstar he had at his disposal
The Performances
Given better writing and a more well-rounded character to essay, Chiranjeevi makes a rollicking comeback to the mass hero role, oozing all the gravitas and panache that was missing in misadventures like "Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019)" and "Acharya (2022)". Satyadev and Murali Sharma excel in their supporting roles while Nayantara shines in a nuanced, restrained performance as the beleaguered, troubled daughter of the CM. Salman Khan's cameo, however, sticks out like a sore thumb, delivering some of the most inept, laughably over-the-top action sequences in the film that spoil the intricate mind games that had made the film highly enjoyable up until that point.
Despite a final act laden with mind-bogglingly stupid and inane action sequences, Chiranjeevi's swag and style pull through the mayhem and ensure you leave the theatre hall satisfied. It is especially rewarding to see the megastar in his true element and with Ram Charan and the Konidela Production Company having secured the rights for other Malayalam hits like "Driving License (2019)" and reportedly even the magnum-opus "Bheeshma Parvam (2022)", there will be more opportunities down the line for the superstar to shine, backed up by strong writing. "Godfather" is a fairly enjoyable watch in theatres, and will be a true treat for Chiranjeevi fans.
The megastar plays "Brahma" an astute political operator and heir-apparent to the Chief Minister who passes away abrupts, leaving behind a power vacuum and a slew of political opportunists who want to make hay while the sun shines. The CM's son-in-law Jai (Satyadev) as well as the Home Minister, Verma (Murali Sharma) lead a faction that will stop at nothing to ensure Brahma doesn't grab power and the ensuing political machinations, treachery and violence form the rest of the story. Director Mohan Raja builds on the original source material rather than copying it frame by frame, delivering more mass elevation sequences suitable for the superstar he had at his disposal
The Performances
Given better writing and a more well-rounded character to essay, Chiranjeevi makes a rollicking comeback to the mass hero role, oozing all the gravitas and panache that was missing in misadventures like "Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019)" and "Acharya (2022)". Satyadev and Murali Sharma excel in their supporting roles while Nayantara shines in a nuanced, restrained performance as the beleaguered, troubled daughter of the CM. Salman Khan's cameo, however, sticks out like a sore thumb, delivering some of the most inept, laughably over-the-top action sequences in the film that spoil the intricate mind games that had made the film highly enjoyable up until that point.
Despite a final act laden with mind-bogglingly stupid and inane action sequences, Chiranjeevi's swag and style pull through the mayhem and ensure you leave the theatre hall satisfied. It is especially rewarding to see the megastar in his true element and with Ram Charan and the Konidela Production Company having secured the rights for other Malayalam hits like "Driving License (2019)" and reportedly even the magnum-opus "Bheeshma Parvam (2022)", there will be more opportunities down the line for the superstar to shine, backed up by strong writing. "Godfather" is a fairly enjoyable watch in theatres, and will be a true treat for Chiranjeevi fans.