Skanda Movie: Skanda marks the much-anticipated collaboration between the dynamic actor Ram Pothineni and the prolific director Boyapati Sreenu. The film garnered substantial attention prior to its release, and today it finally graces the cinemas. Read on for our detailed review.
Plot Summary:
The story revolves around the elopement of Telangana CM Ranjith Reddy’s (Sharath Lohitashwa) son with the daughter of Andhra Pradesh CM Rayudu (Ajay Purkar). Outraged, Rayudu seeks vengeance, but the entry of Bhaskar Raju (Ram Pothineni) alters the course of events. Who is Bhaskar Raju? What drives him? Why does he target both CMs? And how is Rudraganti Ramakrishna Raju (Srikanth) connected to Raju? All these questions find their answers in the movie.
Strengths:
Ram Pothineni’s remarkable transformation for this role is truly commendable. His intensity, especially in the action sequences, is nothing short of extraordinary. Alongside his imposing presence, his impeccable delivery of dialogues adds depth to the scenes.
Sreeleela, while slightly underwhelming as the female lead, demonstrates her abilities and captivates the audience with her graceful presence and dance moves.
Srikanth shines in a significant role, anchoring the narrative. Daggubati Raju also delivers a commendable performance.
Thaman deserves accolades for his exceptional score, which amplifies the impact of many scenes.
Areas for Improvement:
‘Forget the logic, enjoy the magic’ aptly encapsulates Boyapati Sreenu’s recent films, particularly the fight sequences in ‘Skanda’. While the action is thrilling and provides an adrenaline rush, there are moments when plausibility may be questioned.
The storyline largely treads familiar ground, an area where Boyapati Sreenu could explore fresh perspectives. The film starts off engagingly but loses momentum, leading to a slower second half.
In addition to crafting exhilarating dialogues and directing crowd-pleasing fight scenes, there’s a need for greater emphasis on the plot’s engagement factor.
The placement of songs doesn’t always hit the mark. With the exception of a couple, most are forgettable.
The film introduces several characters like Indraja and Gautami, who have limited impact on the plot. Providing them with more substantial roles, even in terms of dialogue, would have been beneficial.
While the emotional aspect in the second half is decent, there’s room for improvement. Some political references in the dialogues may resonate more with mass audiences, especially in B and C centers.
Technical Aspects:
Boyapati Sreenu returns with a high-octane entertainer that leans heavily towards action. M Ratnam’s dialogues hit the mark, eliciting goosebumps at crucial junctures.
Thaman’s background score, particularly in the first half, injects energy and elevates many scenes. Santosh Detake’s cinematography is outstanding, especially in the intense fight sequences.
Editing is proficient, though a trimming of unnecessary scenes in the second half could have improved the pacing. The production values are praiseworthy.
Verdict:
‘Skanda’ is a power-packed action entertainer, driven by Ram Pothineni’s commanding performance, gripping action sequences, and captivating dance numbers. While fans and the masses are likely to revel in this high-voltage extravaganza, the film’s straightforward plot, implausible action sequences, and a slightly sluggish second half may not resonate with everyone. If you’re willing to overlook these aspects, ‘Skanda’ makes for an engaging watch this weekend.