Mahatma is a 2009 Indian Telugu-language action drama film written and directed by Krishna Vamsi. This film stars Srikanth (in his 100th film) and Bhavana. The music was composed by Vijay Antony with cinematography by Sharat and editing by Gautham Raju. The film was to release on 2 October, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti. Due to censor issues, the film's release was postponed by a week to 9 October 2009. The film was dubbed in Tamil as Puthiya Thalapathy and in Hindi as Ek Aur Mahanayak in 2009. The film won four Nandi Awards. The film was a box office success.[1]
Plot
Dasu (Srikanth) is a rowdy in a basti in Hyderabad. He makes a living out of "settlement of petty issues". A young lawyer named Krishnaveni (Bhavana) gets him bail in a petty case, and their acquaintance soon develops into romance after a series of events. On the other hand, a politician-cum-businesswoman (Jyothi) plans to set up SEZ in that basti which is protested by dwellers headed by a genuine leader (Sekhar). Meanwhile, a local politician-cum-old rowdy leader named Dada (Jaya Prakash Reddy) also protests against the businesswoman and seeks Rs. 200 crores if she wants to set up SEZ there. Dasu initially believes Dada as a good politician and works for him. Dada's son assassinates a competitor , which lands him in prison for murder and whilst party members meet for upcoming election, it is revealed that dada's strongheld area is divided into 2 and the other part is given to new contender as dada's son is in jail. Which infuriates dada and they hatch a plan to use Das as a scapegoat in place for dada's son where das opposes dada and plans to contest against him on a newly floated Mahatma party.later, due to few crucial incidents das turns into a proper Gandhi follower and has unanimous and tremendous support by local dwellers as he stands with them to protest against the fab city contract , thereby pulling off dada's seat and deciding to give it to das for his following, but a plan is hatched by dada to grab what is his, as he wants his children to attempt an assassination on him and accuse das for it , and taking the seat back by contesting independently and on the other hand kala Rani makes das's best friend her accomplice and poisons das , but dada's plan is backfired when his children plan to kill him for real and take over both the divided parts of their area, which is heard by dada and he calls das for help, and das arrives and saves dada and all the perpetrators are arrested and dada nominates das as the MLA but das in turn gives it to a shekar as he feels that he is a true leader.
The song "Yem Jaruguthundi" was inspired from the song "Aen Ennaku Mayakkam" from the movie Naan Avanillai. Similarly "Jajjanaka" from "Naaka Mukka" song from the movie Kadhalil Vizhunthen[2] and the song "Dailamo" from "Dailamo Dailamo" from the film Dishyum.
A critic from Rediff.com wrote that "Mahatma, in a way brings back the father of the nation and Gandhism. However, it is pretty verbose and preachy filled with lot of rhetoric too in parts".[4] Jeevi of Idlebrain.com wrote that "Vamsi is known for treading the forbidden areas of typical commercial cinema. Selecting the subject of Gandhi also explains his noble intentions".[5]
