After the record-breaking success of "Pokiri", director Puri Jagannath gets overconfident and spoils his just released "Desamuduru".

He wastes an interesting plot -- love between a reporter and a monk -- by giving preference to glossiness over content. He was probably in an undue hurry to cash in on the success of "Pokiri" and this is reflected in the awkward fusion of love and action in the film.

Allu Arjun, who has been on a winning streak for some time, seems to suffer by relying entirely on the director's judgment. The actor has worked on his physique for the role and electrifies viewers with his dancing, but all that may not help to keep the film afloat at the box office.

New find Hansika suits the role. She shows promise like Puri's earlier discoveries Aasin and Rakshita.

Baddies Pradeep Rawat, Subburaju and Sakuntala are impressive, but it is comedian Ali who walks away with accolades for his rib-tickling performance.

The roles of Chandramohan and Kovai Sarala could have been etched out better.

Though music director "Chakri" offers a few racy numbers, it is the picture-perfect lighting and breathtaking visuals of Sameer Reddy that stand apart and redeem the dreary fare.

The story is about Arjun, a TV reporter, trying to expose a local don (Pradeep Rawat). The reporter gets into a brawl with the don's gang. Soon after, he leaves for Manali on another assignment. There he falls in love with a female monk and after the mandatory hesitation, she reciprocates.

But Pradeep arrives with his gang at Manali to bump off Arjun. Watch the film for the rest.