‘Skanda’ movie review: Commercial to the core

Ram joined forces with the director Boyapati Sreenu for the film ‘Skanda’. The trailer of the film showed the mass and action of Ram in a bulked-up rugged look and the latest sensation Sree Leela along with Saiee Manjrekar adding the glamour. Boyapati Sreenu’s movies are known for mass dramas and “Skanda” also seems to be the one made in his style. As the film hits theatres, let’s see how it fares at box-office.

Story

The CMs of the two states conspire against each other before a man (Ram) kidnaps both their daughters drawing attention toward him. His kidnap has a reason and its name is Rudraganti Ramakrishnam Raju (Srikanth) who is in jail awaiting his death sentence. How is Srikanth related to CM’s and what made Ram to Kidnap is the main plot of the story.

Analysis

Boyapati Sreenu, known for his over-the-top mass flicks, directs “Skanda.” It is another addition to his list and a first with hero Ram. Although routine mass action fares, Boyapati Sreenu is known for his packaging them with neat setups. “Skanda” is also no different, with a larger-than-life setting involving the two Telugu states Chief Ministers.

The director takes time to establish the world as it is huge and has many characters. As a result, the beginning generates curiosity about where it’s headed or what lies ahead. Therefore, the real ones driving the narrative arrive a bit later than usual.

Be it the initial love track involving the lead pair or the not-so-subtle mass elevations, Boyapati Sreenu’s mark is throughout. It is also why one feels an exaggerated feeling of routineness, but the execution doesn’t let one think of the issues until the arrival of the songs. They act like speedbreakers.

The momentum gradually builds towards the interval, and then we have the big bang, literally. One imagines an over-the-top moment, and the director still manages to beat it with his visuals but the BGM is not upto the mark. Audience feel that it would have been more with a fresh, bombastic score.

Post-intermission, the narrative gets further into the template mode with the revelation behind the acts of the first half through a flashback. It is routine, but the casting setting and real-life relatability make it passable nonetheless.

The ending, again, is on a predictable note, but is okay. Skanda is a movie for the masses that treads a predictable path. There is no novelty, but the action, background and slick production values bring a fresh tinge.

Performances

Ram Pothineni’s changeover to a rugged look from “Ismart Shankar” suited him well. Ram justifies his role with his performance in “Skanda.” His ease during the action scenes is good to watch. However, the film is filled with fights than the drama and Ram did decent in both.

Sree Leela is just for songs and she did her dances well in “Chuttu Chuttu” and “Gandarabbai” songs. Saiee Manjrekar appears in more of a guest role. Her character has some scope for acting and she did a decent job. Raja Daggubati was given a notable role. Srikanth is fine. Prince, Prudhvi, Prabhakar, Sharath Lohitashwa, and Ajay Purkar were all alright in their respective roles. Always heavily dressed and screen-filling star cast is common in Boyapati films and in “Skanda” too. Many actors hardly get a dialogue including Indraja and Gouthami.

Technicalities

The first thing that comes to anyone’s mind in a Boyapati-Thaman combination is the BGM. Skanda’s background music is okayish it could have been better. “Ne Chuttu,” “Cult Mama” and “Gandarabbai” songs are good to watch.

Most of the dialogues are monotonous with rhyming like ‘gate’ and ‘toll gate’. The screenplay could have been better. The Cinematography is fine. The editing could have been better, particularly with the slow pace in the second half.

Advantages

Ram’s Energy

Boyapati Mark Mass Action Blocks

Ram and Sreelela’s dance

Drawbacks

Routine Template Proceedings

Weak BGM & few songs

Movie Review: by Suhas Sistu