"Stalin" - unlike what the title suggests - has been inspired by Hollywood hit "Pay It Forward". Director Murugadoss borrowed the basic plot from the English take, but ended up making the film too "preachy".

After a silly comedy like "Jai Chiranjeeva", superstar Chiranjeevi could have been more careful in choosing his next role. He puts up an average performance as an ex-serviceman, but the issues he confronts do not really gel with his larger-than-life screen image.

Bubbly Trisha plays the typical female lead in a hero-centric film. She chases Chiru long and hard before capturing him. But she does help to make "Stalin" less dreary.

Veteran Khushboo returns in a tearjerker role.

Villain Prakash Raj's metamorphosis as an old man is the only surprise in the film, which is otherwise loaded with stereotypes. He does impress.

Murugadoss, who showed promise in Tamil hits "Ramana" and "Ghajini", fails to live up to the expectations.

Producer Nagababu, the brother of Chiranjeevi, with classics like "Rudraveena" to his credit, attempts a commercial film, but without success.

Cinematographer Chota K. Naidu captures the various moods elegantly, while top composer Mani Sharma disappoints with ordinary tunes.