Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

The Most Disappointing Telugu films of 2012

Last updated on: January 18, 2013 10:57 IST
A scene from Nippu

Quite a few Telugu films failed to live up to expectations in 2012 despite their big budgets and star-cast.

Here are some that disappointed audiences and didn't fare well at the box office either.

Film: Nippu

Cast: Ravi Teja, Deeksha Seth

Dir: Gunasekhar

This was one of the first films of the year and it was a let down despite the fact that it was produced by YVS Chowdhary and directed by Gunasekhar, two big names in the industry.

The director came up with a lacklustre screenplay and this really proved to be the extinguisher. Even Ravi Teja could not salvage the film.

Given its run-of-the-mill story in the formulaic pattern, it is not surprising that Nippu failed.

Read the review here

Dammu

Last updated on: January 18, 2013 10:57 IST
A scene from Dammu

Cast: NTR Jr, Trisha, Karthika Nair  

Dir: Boyapati Seenu

Director Boyapati Seenu made this film for NTR Jr, in fact to boost his heroic image. But it had a cliched and rather regressive storyline. This stereotypical film with warring families and internecine feuds had unlimited doses of gruesome violence.

Even though NTR Jr put up a good show, he couldn't prop up a film with a plot like that. Both the heroines, Trisha and Karthika, didn't have much to do and the film was altogether unsatisfactory.

Read the review here

Devudu Chesina Manushulu (DCM)

Last updated on: January 18, 2013 10:57 IST
A scene from Devudu Chesina Manushulu

Cast: Ravi Teja, Ileana D'Cruz

Dir: Puri Jagannadh

This film was slickly made, but had practically no plot, poor characterisation and a weak script. Puri's concentration seems to be on making more films, and therefore compromising on the content, which led to the failure of DCM.

Neither Ravi Teja's comic timing nor Ileana's glamorous presence worked to make the film appealing.

Read the review here

Cameraman Gangatho Rambabu (CGR)

Last updated on: January 18, 2013 10:57 IST
A scene from Cameraman Gangatho Rambabu

Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Tamannaah Bhatia

Director: Puri Jagannadh

Yet another film with a wafer-thin storyline and screenplay. The subject is the media and it is set against a political backdrop. Pawan Kalyan has some punchy dialogues and it was essentially a hero-centric film. Tamannaah plays the reporter Ganga, a slightly tomboyish character. Expectations were high for this film since Pawan's first release this year, Gabbar Singh (a remake of Dabbangg) was a huge hit.

But CGR was quite a dampener. The film ran into trouble because of some comments made regarding Telangana. Activists turned violent and damaged Puri's office and vehicle.

Read the review here

Endukante Premanta

Last updated on: January 18, 2013 10:57 IST
A scene from Endukante Premanta

Cast: Ram, Tamannaah Bhatia

Director: Karunakaran

This love story with a reincarnation theme lacked Karunakaran's usual magic as it hovered between life, death and the paranormal – more in the fantasy zone than reality.

The film was not convincing in terms of narration and despite good performances from Ram and Tamannaah, and the lavish production values, the film didn't do as well as expected as it was slightly off-beat though within the mainstream. 

Read the review here