With his second intriguing crime comedy, Bhaag Saale, Sri Simha Koduri, who rose to fame with his breakthrough crime comedy thriller Mathu Vadalara, makes a comeback. The movie has been released today.
Story : The rich Maya (Neha Solanki) and the middle-class Arjun (Sri Simha Koduri) are madly in love. Arjun deceives Maya into believing he is wealthy by acting rich. Their lives, however, take an unexpected turn when Samuel (John Vijay) decides to pursue Maya’s family in order to obtain the precious Shaali Shuka Gaja (SSG) diamond. Maya’s family does not own the diamond, so Samuel kidnaps her father and demands the ring in exchange for his release. Maya asks her lover Arjun for help in this dire situation. What will happen next? Is Arjun successful in locating the ring? Who is the owner of the priceless jewel?Why is Samuel so adamant about getting the ring? Does Samuel ultimately succeed in his goals?
Performance: With Bhaag Saale, Sri Simha Koduri excels once more in the crime comedy subgenre. The actor turns in a commendable performance, showing off significant advancements in both his comic and action abilities.
John Vijay dazzles the audience with a polished performance and sharp comedy timing. His depiction provides him with opportunities to play more evil roles in upcoming Telugu films.
The comedic team of Sudarshan and Satya gives strong performances that make the audience laugh. The actor Rajeev Kanakala, who portrays the hero’s father, dazzles with his acting and conversation. Numerous scenes are significantly improved by the music as well.
Technicalities: The chance for the director to tell a well-known tale in an interesting way was lost. The uninteresting story may have been handled in a riveting way by adding intriguing parts and writing a stronger screenplay.
The movie is improved by Kaal Bhairava’s soundtrack, which elevates various sequences. However, none of the songs remain particularly memorable after the movie has ended, failing to leave a lasting impression.
The second hour’s flow may have been improved if editor Karthika Srinivas had cut a number of pointless passages. The work of director of photography Ramesh Kushender is adequate, and the production qualities are good.
Analysis: The main flaw is how a well-known plot is carried out. Similar crime comedies have been seen by audiences for millennia. Even while using a familiar plot isn’t inherently bad, the movie may have stood out with a more interesting narration. Unfortunately, Praneeth Bramandapally failed to create a compelling experience for viewers.
It does well in the first half, which has a good balance of comedy and action. The second part, however, lacks adequate narration. The patience of the viewer is put to the test by the addition of pointless sequences and a slow-moving narrative. The screenplay required greater focus from the director. Although Neha Solanki has a good screen presence, her character offers her little opportunities to express her talents. Her character may have had more depth if the director had written it more skillfully.
The movie might have benefited from adding more comedic parts. It’s unfortunate that the filmmaker didn’t make the most of Harsha Chemudu, Satya, and Sudarshan’s tremendous talents. Their performances could have drastically changed the outcome of Bhaag Saale if their personalities had been more fully realised. Supporting figures like Nandini Rai, Varshini, and Prithvi Raj deserved roles that were better written.
Verdict : Overall, Bhaag Saale is a slow-moving crime comedy thriller, especially in the second half. The acting of Sri Simha Koduri and a few of the comedic portions are alright. One becomes bored in the second half due to the weak screenplay. If you decide to watch this movie despite your reservations, it’s best to have very modest expectations.
Rating : 1.5/5
