Shakti (2011 film)

Faqtooni, an Egyptian woman, vows to seek revenge for the death of her husband Mukhtar and trains her sons Bashim and Raakha. She wants to retrieve a magical Jwalamukhi diamond and a Rudra trident. Her brother Jaffer reveals that Mahadevaraya, the Home Minister of India, possesses the diamond. In order to retrieve it, they target his daughter Aishwarya who goes on a secret trip with her friends, after unwittingly packing the diamond in her bag. In Jaipur, they meet Shakti, a tourist guide who comes to their rescue when goons trouble them. Mahadevaraya learns of Aishwarya's escape from home and two police officers are assigned to find her. Mahadevaraya requests his former partner Jackie to hand him over the trident in exchange for his entire wealth, but Jackie declines. While in Kashmir, Aishwarya falls for Shakti after he saves her life. Later, she is kidnapped by Bashim's henchmen but rescued by Shakti after a fight. Bashim manages to find out they're now heading to Haridwar, where Shakti comes across the diamond while taking a dip in the Ganges. A sage senses it and informs Mahadevaraya about the cleansing of the diamond and arrival of Aishwarya's protector. The two cops looking for Aishwarya inform them about her presence in Haridwar. While leaving the city, Aishwarya proposes to Shakti but he declines. Soon, Bashim and his henchmen attack them but Shakti, revealed to be an undercover agent, protects everyone and captures Bashim after a huge shootout.

On the other hand, Faqtooni tries to retrieve the trident from Jackie but he demands a huge sum. Aishwarya is questioned about the diamond but she doesn't know anything. Shakti explains to officer Siva, his father, that he went undercover to protect Aishwarya as she was the target of a terrorist group. On the other hand, Raakha is sent to India to rescue Bashim. Aishwarya finds pictures of her in Shakti's bag, which leads to Shakti confessing that he loved her from the moment he saw her. Shakti, along with his parents and Aishwarya, goes to the temple for his birthday and finds the box with the Jwalamukhi and opens it. Siva informs Mahadevaraya and is called to Hampi along with both the diamond and Aishwarya. Raakha attacks the prison and frees Bashim who, having overheard a conversation, tells him Siva is heading to Hampi. Raakha attacks Siva and other officers but is left wounded by Shakti who gains powers after touching the diamond. At Hampi, Bashim tries to snatch the diamond but is killed by Shakti with an ancient sword. Proclaiming Shakti as the protector, the sage explains how Rudra, the protector of a secret Shakti Peetha, sacrificed his life while protecting his pregnant wife and Mahadevaraya's parents from Mukhtar and his henchmen. Jackie, who was initially known as Janaki Varma, killed Mahadevaraya's parents after being paid by Mukhtar and managed to flee with the Rudra trident. After killing Mukhtar, a dying Shakti handed over his newborn son to his loyal servant Basava, who sent him away via the river. He was discovered by Siva and his wife and eventually raised by them as Shakti.

Shakti retrieves the trident after killing Jackie's henchmen, Jaffer and Jackie himself. However, Shakti is betrayed and shot by Mahadevaraya's partner Prachanda, who then acquires the trident and hands it over to Faqtooni as she arrives with a resurrected Raakha. Mahadevaraya stabs Prachanda to death, and Raakha knocks him unconscious. Faqtooni forcibly takes the sage and Aishwarya to perform the compulsory rites conducted every 27 years, and as Raakha begins destruction, Shakti arrives and fights using the trident. Faqtooni is thrown into a deep pit, while an indestructible Raakha is killed after the sage instructs Shakti to stab Raakha in his eyes, which were implanted from Mukhtar's severed head. Mahadevaraya regains consciousness, while Shakti places the trident back and walks out with the diamond in his hand, accompanied by Aishwarya and the sage.

123Telugu.com gave the film 3 stars out of 5, praising the action sequences, songs and cinematography while criticizing the direction, writing and Egyptian episodes.[5]

Radhika Rajamani from Rediff.com gave the film 2 stars out of 5 and found the locales to be well captured, but criticized the Egyptian connection and the second half.[6]

Times of India gave the film 2.5 stars out of 5 and praised the cinematography, Jr. NTR's performance, dance and action sequences but criticized the writing and music.[7]

The soundtrack, composed by Mani Sharma, was released on 27 February 2011.

• Shakti on IMDb