Ultimately, Rudhramadevi is a case of Gunasekhar getting it right in terms of the subject, but when it eventually comes to the scale and execution, it falters. Not quite the epic saga it set out to be, unfortunately.

The problem with making a film based on history is the amount of liberty the filmmaker can afford to take, in order to tweak the history so that the film appeals to a wider audience. If the story and the characterisation breach a certain boundary, and if the infused fictional elements overshadow the facts, then the film fails to do justice to the genre. Rudhramadevi seems to have bumped into a similar problem.

The film’s graphics are lacklustre and tacky with the 3D feeling unnecessary, but Gunasekhar tries to make up for it with a narrative. And he does present a pretty decent tale where he presents interesting details about history.

The film starts on an intense note with Chiranjeevi’s voice over, takes a pause on a high note at the interval and ends with an emotional climax keeping you on a wait for Pratapa Rudra. On the whole, though Rudhramadevi do not amaze you, it surely tugs you back to 13th century and it is a journey to witness.

Written by Gunasekhar himself, the screenplay seems a bit half-baked and rushed. It relies too much on ‘telling’ rather than ‘showing’, making it almost impossible for the viewer to connect with the situations depicted on the big screen. This problem is magnified even further by a snail-paced narrative which at times becomes a bit yawn inducing

The film stands taller when compared to the standards of other Tollywood productions. In fact, It looks better than “Baahubali the Beginning” in some aspects. So it should be watched and enjoyed on the screen, especially in 3D.

While the first half of the film is interesting, the second half of the narration drags. It is the verbose exposition coupled with; the never ending battles scenes, numerous characters with odd sounding names and poorly synchronised dubbing, that weighs the film down. Overall, the film gives a fair insight into this historical biopic.

The scale and rich historical importance is major plus point of director Gunasekhar’s laborious movie but the narration is quite ineffective. Despite Allu Arjun’s stellar show and Anushka’s hard work, Rudramadevi makes the movie a tedious watch post interval. But we should appreciate Gunasekhar for taking such effort to present us our rich Telugu history on to the screen.

The film, however, is a bit slow and lacks drama and emotion. The director has concentrated more on establishing Rudhramadevi’s character but does not delve into her emotions much. The computer graphics too are not up to the mark. Watch Rudhramadevi for a glimpse into Telugu history and culture and how a woman struggled to regain power and cement her place in history.

Rudhrama Devi can still be watched once despite all the flaws because of the story and the insights it gives about the characters of the great Telugu kingdom. Guna Sekhar should have come up with a far more engrossing product as he repeatedly said that it was his dream to make a movie on the warrior queen. Don’t expect wonders or an everlasting cinematic experience with this film. Guna has announced a movie on Pratapa Rudra, The Last Emperor. Hope he comes up with better product learning from his mistakes.

It is not Anushka’s film all the way. There is an unexpected dose of Allu Arjun’s quirkiness here. Some cliched elements like Anushka’s fiery dance in the climax could have been avoided. Fairly good writing otherwise.

On the whole, Rudrama Devi is a decent attempt from Gunasekhar. Heavy duty star cast, rich visuals and Allu Arjun’s stunning character elevate the film to a decent level. But a dragged out narration and slow pace of the film makes things tedious during the second half. The film is bound to get some huge openings because of the buzz it is carrying. Finally, if you keep all your expectations in check and go with the flow of the film, you can easily give this film a shot for its lavish film making and historical lineage.

All in all, appreciation to Gunasekhar goes for the fact that through the movie he tries to bring rich history of Telugu land on to the screen. Other than this fact, the movie has more demerits than the merits.

The movie is only for people who want to know how Rudrama Devi ruled in the guise of a male.

There are several shortcomings, but Gunasekhar piques the interest to go back and read up more about this warrior queen.

The beauty of the story and the idea behind the film, however, outweigh its flaws and so we’d suggest you watch the film. It is a wholesome entertainer that also teaches you a lot about the history of the Telugu country and its people.

If you are a die hard fan of Anushka and Allu Arjun, and can digest its mediocre VFX, bad 3D effects and boring second half, then do go for Rudhramadevi. It is not as bad as Puli which had no story whatsover. But if you are expecting an another Baahubali at big screens, then prepared to be terribly disappointed.

Breathtaking in scope and action and surprisingly precise characterizations despite whatever ethnically dubious casting choices. Gunaa’s expertise in the machinery of the genre reaches its pinnacle. The Rudhramadevi – Gonna Ganna Reddy final scene is stroke of genius. On the whole, Rudhramadevi is another epic from master Guaa, very enjoyable.

Gunashekar has recreated the 13th century with magnificent dexterity. This is a milestone of a film with a powerful message on women’s empowerment. No matter what your mother tongue doesn’t miss this opulent ode to the power of the feminine spirit to make war and babies.