‘Swag’ review: Promising content, disappointing execution

Swag, directed by Hasith Goli, features Sree Vishnu in multiple roles across different generations, attempting to claim a vast family inheritance. The film creates huge buzz with its promotional content. As the film hits theatres, let’s see how it fares at box-office.

Story

The core plot revolves around the Swaganika Vamsam and the immense wealth waiting to be claimed by its rightful heir. Sree Vishnu plays various roles, spanning different generations, as he competes for the riches. While the storyline presents an interesting premise, it becomes increasingly convoluted, leading to confusion rather than engagement. The film struggles to maintain a consistent tone, with the latter half suffering from unnecessary complexity and a lack of focus.

Performances

Sree Vishnu deserves credit for taking on a challenging script like Swag. He showcases commendable effort in portraying different roles with distinct characteristics, but even his talent cannot save the film from its muddled narrative. Ritu Varma starts on a strong note but fades into a forgettable character as the story progresses. The supporting cast, including Meera Jasmine, Daksha Nagarkar, Sunil, and others, give average performances, mainly due to weak character development.

Technicalities

Hasith Goli, who previously found success with Raja Raja Chora, aimed for a layered and creative narrative in Swag. Unfortunately, the attempt to blend humor, drama, and a complex storyline results in a confusing watch. Vivek Sagar's background music provides some impact, but the songs are lackluster and fail to leave an impression. Vedaraman Sankaran's cinematography and GM Shekar's artwork are decent but lack the slickness required for a film of this scale. Editing by Viplav Nyshadam is unsatisfactory, adding to the disjointed and confusing nature of the narrative. Production values are adequate, but ultimately, the film's execution falls flat.

Analysis

Mixing up many elements, the humor is inconsistent, and the shift from a light-hearted tone to a more serious one feels disjointed. The second half drags with repetitive sequences and lacks the necessary coherence to tie the plot threads effectively. Although the ending delivers a meaningful message, it arrives too late to salvage the film.

Swag is an ambitious attempt that ultimately falls short due to its convoluted narrative and lack of clear direction. Despite its promising concept and Sree Vishnu’s efforts, the film fails to deliver an engaging experience due to poor execution and a lack of clarity in storytelling. On a whole, the film fails to engage making it a disappointing and confusing watch.

Review by: SUHAS SISTU