Throughout, Siddharth's energy keeps the movie afloat (yet it threatens to sink). He has become lean again, his comic timing is excellent and his dancing skills were never bad. Ileana matches his enthusiasm. The actor who plays Munna clearly cannot speak Telugu and someone's dubbed for him, but though his look suits the character he portrays, it is a passable performance albeit convincing. Suneel's acting generates many laughs.

Summary:

Jeevi rating: 3/5

Sri Krishna (Siddhardh) grows up watching films playing in the theater in which his father works as a movie-projectionist in a village. Satya (Ileana) is harassed by Vicky (Munna) - son of a politician - who wants to marry her. Satya escapes from home and Sri Krishna falls in love with her the first time he meets her. As the goons and police chase Satya, Sri Krishna protects her and drops her in the house of the politician. He wins Munna’s confidence. The rest of the story is the one-sided game between Sri Krishna and Munna.

MS Raju has earned quite a name for himself and his banner Sumanth Arts in recent years. Though Pournami broke his continuous success streak (Nee Sneham, I was told, did reasonably well), one still has great expectations from his movies. And why not, when Siddarth (after Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana), VN Aditya (after Manasantha Nuvve) and Devi Sri Prasad aka Devi (after Varsham, NVNV, Pournami) are teaming up with him again for Aata. If it was Trisha in NVNV, its Illeana who Sid falls head over heels for in Aata and thus begins a game!

In films, as in life, it is all about understanding and chemistry. M S Raj and Siddharth share that unique vibes. They understand each other so well and have great respect for each other that Aata has all the makings of big winner.

M S Raju and Siddharth gave that memorable love lesson in NVNV some time back. Now they are back in Aata.

Mumbai Mirror earlier announced that Siddharth was getting considered and perhaps even finalised for the the lead in Rakesh Mehra's next Dili 6. Indiafm says otherwise.

Sometime back, we told you of RANG DE BASANTI director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and UTV joining hands to produce four films with the total budget being Rs. 280 crores. The gamut of films to be directed by Mehra includes PAANCH KAURAV [a trilogy] and DILLI-6, based on Mehra's growing up years in the vibrant Chandni Chowk area of New Delhi.

The casting of DILLI-6 has been the topic of discussion ever since Mehra announced the project officially. Initially, Mehra had approached Hrithik Roshan for the main role, then Abhishek Bachchan, later Akshay Kumar. Just recently, it was reported that Mehra had finally confirmed Siddharth [enacted one of the leads in RANG DE BASANTI] for the role in question.

“It's completely untrue,” Mehra clarifies when I quiz him about the casting, “I haven't signed Siddharth for the film. In fact, I haven't signed anyone so far. The media keeps planting someone every alternate week.” Didn't he approach Akshay Kumar again? “Not at all! I guess, the media knows more about my film than I do,” he laughs.

By Taran Adarsh, May 8, 2007 - 04:02 IST