Producer Rockline Venkatesh always makes big films
and revels in making remakes. "Aajay", a remake of Telugu
hit "Okkudu" and its Tamil version "Gilli", conforms
to his standards.
The film is a well-made entertainer. However, those who have seen the
original or its Tamil remake may be disappointed as director Mehar Ramesh
has not been able to match the narrative of either Gunashekhar who made
"Okkudu" or the improvisation of Dharani in "Gilli".
The first of the film's positives is the performance of actor Prakash
Raj. He played the same role in the Telugu original and its Tamil version.
But in the Kannada film, he goes one step further by conversing in the
northern Karnataka accent to perfection.
The film can also be
remembered for Puneet Raj Kumar's excellent screen presence and his
agility in fight sequences. The chase sequences and the kabaddi matches
are really well shot.
On the negative side, Ramesh, who had earlier directed Puneet's "Veera
Kannadiga", has not succeeded in maintaining the film's tempo.
Actress Anu Mehta's performance lacks lustre and the necessary glamour.
Mani Sharma's music falls below expectations. He has merely lifted tunes
from his earlier film scores.