By V.S. Rajapur

Film: "Nippu";
Cast: Ravi Teja, Deeksha Shet, Rajendra Prasad, Brahmanandam, Srikanth, Mukul Deve, Pradeep Rawat and Krishnudu;
Producer: Y.V.S. Chowdhary;
Writer-Director: Gunashekhar;
Composer: S. Thaman;
Camera: Sarvesh Murari:
Rating: **

Telugu film industry star Ravi Teja's films are neither pretentious nor have any semblance of a convincing story line to reveal. They are just mass entertainers. And he is the sole strength of all his films as he can excel in dialogue delivery, dance and fight scenes.

But lately his formula has not been appealing to the audiences. "Nippu" is one more addition to the list of mediocre films from Ravi Teja. The only redeeming feature is the brilliant comic timing between Ravi Teja and Brahmanandam.

Much was expected from "Nippu" as two prominent directors of the Telugu film industry, Gunashekhar and Y.V.S. Chowdhary who were once the actor's roommates in his struggling days, had worked as a director and producer of the film.

But "Nippu' fails to appeal as it does not have a good script.

It is surprising that Gunashekhar, who did some brilliant film like "Okkudu", could write a meaningless, weak script like "Nippu".

The narration in the first half is too boring, the film generates interest in the second half only to nose-dive in the climax. In a way "Nippu" is a clear letdown.

In the film, Sruya has a good friend in Sriram who migrated to Saudi Arabia. Surya comes to know that his friend has been awarded death sentence for a crime he has not committed. His lover Vaishnavi accidentally falls from rooftop, but Sriram is falsely implicated in the case.

Surya does not believe it and goes to Saudi Arabia to save his friend. How he saves his friend forms the rest of the story.

As usual Ravi Teja is best in comedy and action sequences, but fails to lift the weak story.

Deeksha has nothing much to do.

Pradeep Rawat and Mukul Dev's performance are on expected lines, however, Brahmanandam excels in a few comedy sequences.

Talented artists like Rajendra Prasad and Sriram have little opportunities in the film.

Thaman's music is also ordinary, but camera work is good.

Ravi Teja's "Nippu" is a disappointing film.