Allu Sirish is back after a long gap with the film Buddy. The film has been in the making for a long time and was released today. Sam Anton is the director of this film, which has Gayatri Bharadwaj as the heroine. Read our review here.
Story: Aditya Ram, portrayed by Allu Sirish, soars the skies as a pilot, while Pallavi (Gayatri Bharadwaj), deftly manages air traffic control in Vizag. When Pallavi develops feelings for Aditya, an unfortunate workplace incident causes his career to stumble. As she endeavors to mend their relationship, she is abducted. In an extraordinary twist, Pallavi’s soul becomes ensnared in her teddy bear. Now, with her spirit bound to the toy, Pallavi and Aditya must collaborate to recover her body. How all this is handled is the basic story of the film.
Performances: Allu Sirish has a natural flair for comedy and does well in his role. He has a teddy bear as his sidekick, and this generates a lot of comedy. Buddy is a film that kids might like, and Sirish does well in this department. Gayatri Bharadwaj is impressive as the heroine. Her screen presence is limited, but she does well in her role. Ajmal Amir plays the main villain, and he overacts for no reason. Prisha Singh is amazing in her role. Ali evokes a few laughs here and there.
Technical Aspects: The music by Hiphop Tamizha is merely average, adding little to the overall experience. The production values are subpar, with some CGI effects that appear unconvincing. Ruben’s editing lacks the needed precision, and while Krishnan Vasanth‘s cinematography is adequate, it fails to stand out. Sam Anton’s direction falls flat, delivering a predictable story paired with a lackluster screenplay devoid of surprises. The screenplay is dull, and there are so many over-the-top moments in the film. The editing is also bad, as so many scenes could have been edited out.
Analysis: Buddy is a film that Allu Sirish has been banking on for a long time now. But sadly, the film fails to deliver. From the very beginning, the storyline unfolds in a way that leaves little to the imagination, and Sam Anton’s direction fails to bring the necessary engagement to keep the audience invested.
Buddy grapples with a predictable plot that struggles to create any real suspense. Many scenes defy logic, inadvertently provoking laughter, especially during the climax. This reveals a significant lack of meticulous planning and foresight during production.
Supporting characters are woefully underutilized, leading to performances that feel weak and unconvincing. Their characterizations lack depth and impact, further detracting from the overall narrative. The second half is a huge letdown and does not have anything novel to showcase.
Numerous scenes drag on without adding value, and much of the intended comedy misses the mark. The film is plagued by pacing issues and inconsistent humor, resulting in an overall experience that feels disjointed and unsatisfying.
Verdict: Buddy is a film that has an interesting premise, and a few scenes will be liked by the kids. Apart from this, there is nothing going for this Allu Sirish starrer. His wait for a solid hit continues sadly.
Bottom Line: Silly and over-the-top
Rating: 2/5
