‘Maa Nanna Superhero’ Movie Review: A complicated relationship drama on the shoulders of Sudhir Babu


Sudheer Babu and Saichand in Telugu film 'Maa Nanna Superhero'

Sudheer Babu and Saichand in Telugu film ‘Maa Nanna Superhero’ Photo credit: Special Arrangements

A scene from director Abhilash Reddy Kankar’s Telugu film Mother Nanna is a superhero (My Dad is a Superhero) shows the protagonist Johnny (Sudhir Babu) driving his house owner and stops abruptly when the latter’s daughter comes into the picture. She doesn’t want to make the man seem less mortal to her child. The narrative tries to ride on the universal emotion of children seeing their father as a superhero. Abhilash wonders how far a son will go to save his father, with whom he has a tumultuous relationship. The plot becomes more complicated as it involves a father Srinivas (Sayaji Shinde) and his adopted son Johnny and later the biological father also returns. This idea may seem intriguing on a script level, but the film feels uneven and held together by a few endearing moments.

In the opening segment, Prasad (Saichand), a lorry driver in need of money, reluctantly leaves his infant son at an orphanage for a few days, promising to return soon after completing an errand. The setting is the early 80s, before mobile phones and when not everyone had a landline. The orphanage manager (Jhansi) doesn’t ask too many questions. It is remarkable how Jhansi portrays both toughness and empathy through her body language in a brief role where she speaks very little. A turn of events lands Prasad in jail. The account does not describe how he was made a scapegoat for carrying drugs. There is not even a passing mention of actual traders. The story prefers to focus on the emotional plight of the father who has no way of communicating with the orphanage.

Ma Nanna Superhero (Telugu)

Director: Abhilash Reddy Kankra

Starring: Sudhir Babu, Sayaji Shinde, Saichand

Storyline: An adopted son who is ready to go to any lengths to save his father, unknowingly crosses paths with his biological father and things take a turn.

Abhilash uses destiny as a tool to propel the narrative forward in key sequences, some of which work while others feel contrived. Twenty-five years later, Johnny (Sudheer Babu), who grew up thinking of his adoptive father Srinivas (Sayaji Shinde) as a superhero, sets out to correct and strengthen the image of his adoptive father that has taken a beating over the years. Gradually, the film reveals why the relationship between Johnny and Srinivas soured and why the boy lives on hoping for better news.

Other characters and relationships take a back seat in this story of two fathers and a son. For example, Johnny’s love story with events manager Tara (Arna) is just absurd. The criss-crossing of biological father and son takes place in a cinematic so-close-yet-yet-far fashion, amplified by Jai Krrish’s emotional score. This part of the narrative takes some time to find its rhythm; It does so with a road trip.

A road trip is often used by filmmakers as a narrative device to explore the bonds between characters. Here too, text can work if used well. Instead, we get a complicated journey. Certain scenes highlight Johnny Strike’s easy relationship with Prasad in contrast to his one-sided and bitter bond with Srinivas. The parts that feature choreographer Raju Sundaram in an extended cameo come as an afterthought rather than something consistent with the story.

The need for money is a running thread through the narrative and the purpose of traveling to Kerala, on paper, must have seemed like an attractive proposition. On screen, occasional parts between Prasad and Johnny clearly show tension but not enough to make us empathize with them despite sincere performances by Sudheer Babu and Saichand. On the bright side, the narrative tries to treat Sudheer Babu as a regular guy stuck in a difficult situation and doesn’t play with his stardom. Even a fight sequence is shot realistically.

In the final part, the film, which is messy till then, transforms to depict a heartwarming bond between the son and his two fathers. If the journey to this destination were interesting enough.

Abhilash directed the Telugu web series defeatedFrom Sayaji Shinde to Shashank (as a lottery ticket dealer) and several others depend on some of his actors in the web series. Ultimately, the film rests on the shoulders of Sudheer Babu and Saichand who do their best to elevate the relationship drama.



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