Cast: Suriya, Trisha Krishnan, RJ Balaji, Swasika, Indrans and others
Crew:
Music Director: Sai Abhyankkar
Cinematographer: G. K. Vishnu
Editor: R. Kalaivanan
Writer-Director: RJ Balaji
Producers: S. R. Prabhu, S. R. Prakash Babu
Suriya has been waiting for a box office success since his Singham 2. His major films like Kanguva, failed to create any sort of box office momentum and now, Karuppu, Veerabhadrudu in Telugu, released after many struggles on 15th May, a day later than planned. The movie is designed to be a God vs Evil in society and how it panned out in RJ Balaji direction? Let's discuss in detail.
Plot:
Baby Krishna (RJ Balaji) is a demon-personified lawyer and he owns court room as his own. He dictates terms and knows how to keep his rule intact as even Judge (Natty) also supports him. Muthu Nayudu (Indrans) and his daughter Meenu (Anagha) come to Hyderabad for his surgery but their jewellery gets stolen. Police find the thieves but ask them to go to court to prove it is their own and take back. Baby Krishna turns against them and this forces God Veerabhadra (Suriya) to intervene and correct the system. What does he do? How does he achieve it all? Watch the movie to know more.
Analysis:
Suriya is a star personified and he fits well in this God role. His mannerisms, style, his body language all work perfectly in this role. But his fixation to appear as a savior on screen seems to be getting repetitive. He needs a change in stories he selects but as he is playing God, here, we can be prepared to what is coming. He handles all the emotions well and the screen presence is believable in every frame.
RJ Balaji did a great job in presenting himself as a ruthless person and Suriya as God. His eye in detailing and handling visually did help in presentation of Climax and Interval. But it seemed like he had these scenes in mind and written script to fit them around rather than organically developing a human story for God to arrive and solve the crisis. Rather than making it a reflection of drop in "The Humane" touch in humans, he tries to instil fear of God.
So, the movie and script loses the enthusiasm related to solution and becomes the next sequence for Suriya to present him as "The One" and God. While the callbacks, the references and meta narrative is all acceptable part of a star vehicle and commercial film, the film seems to depend heavily on them to work big time as the emotional thread is weak in progression. Still, Suriya carries it brilliantly and we admire him.
Sai Abhyankkar music is fine but his mixing in Telugu version is underwhelming as the original Tamil version songs are well mixed. The BGM also at places feels too loud as it dilutes the dialogue. GK Vishnu visuals are grand and apt for the film. Trisha Krishnan needed much better role, Indrans performed brilliantly. Production values are grand and movie technically is good in places and a miss at few. Overall, Karuppu, Veerabhadrudu works in parts as a decent film that depends on Suriya star image more than story.
Positives:
Suriya
RJ Balaji performance
Interval Episode
Climax
Few Good Lines
Negatives:
Old School Storytelling
Lethargic Narrative
Draggy sequences
Predictability
Bottomline:
Suriya saves this decent attempt yet very old school story.
Rating: 2.5/5
Disclaimer: The views/opinions expressed in this review are personal views/opinions shared by the writer and organisation does not hold a liability to them. Viewers' discretion is advised before reacting to them.
