“Excited:)waiting for dayafter:)”

This is the tweet of Mahesh Babu a couple of days back about his excitement over the release of Businessman movie. But alas, the day after proved to be a disappointment!

The  much-hyped Mahesh-Puri Jagannath combination failed to create any sparks in theaters. Businessman released on Friday worldwide is not even a pale shadow of that ultimate entertainer Pokiri, which wrote new records in Telugu film industry.

Mahesh had high hopes on the film, but it is surprising that he could not see that the film is devoid of both flesh and soul. The mafia story has nothing new to offer and the so-called ‘punch dialogues’ actually lack punch.

Pokiri had a convincing and engaging story which is sorely missing here. A young man going to Mumbai to become the mafia don at the national level is too far-fetched. We have stories where loners get caught in the vortex of Mumbai world and rising swiftly through their talents. But here, our hero Surya decides beforehand that he would become one without giving a clue to the viewer as to what his credentials are.

The songs and choreography are badly executed and alternate scenes between underworld action and romantic scenes with Kajal somehow don’t gel.

Mahesh Babu’s films always had the elements of gripping emotional drama interspersed with rip-roaring comedy interludes. Amazingly, both these ingredients were treated very tersely by Puri Jagannath, who seems to have been carried away by his own formula of exaggerated heroism that fails to connect with the viewer.

Whether Businessman will equal Pokiri collections is too early to say, but one thing is certain: Businessman is not even half as entertaining as Pokiri.

“I wud like 2 thank RR venkat n his fabulous team for a massive release n unbelievable publicity for Businessman..thanku sir…” Mahesh Babu tweeted. It is to be seen whether he would say the same to Puri Jagannath, who for once failed to get it right.