Bandi Saroj Kumar made a mark with his movies on YouTube. He has now acted, directed, and produced a film titled Parakramam. The film has been in the news for a long time due to its unique promotions and has hit the screens today. Let’s see how it is.
Story: Witnessing the injustices around him, artist Satthibabu (Bandi Saroj Kumar) dreams of addressing these wrongs through a play. However, he realizes that the strength to fight evil lies is not in him but in his son, Lovaraju (Bandi Saroj Kumar). Before he dies, Satthibabu vows to play the role of Yama in the play Parakramam. Whether motivated by his father’s last wish or his love for Lakshmi (Shruti Samanvi), Lovaraju becomes determined to stage the first chapter of Parakram at Ravindra Bharati in Hyderabad. The film Parakramam revolves around what Satthibabu aimed to convey through the play and the challenges Lovaraju faces in bringing it to life.
Performances: Bandi Saroj Kumar attempts to impress with his dual roles, he truly shines as Lovaraju, bringing his unique style to the character. Given that Bandi Saroj Kumar’s real-life persona closely mirrors the character’s traits, both his fans and mass audiences will likely connect with his portrayal. Despite the presence of many new actors, Kirithiraj stands out as the most impressive.
Suribabu delivers a balanced performance, avoiding the typical sidekick role. Shruti Samanvi shines as a young woman with a minor disability, adding depth to her character through subtle gestures. The performances of Nagalakshmi, Vamsiraj, Nikhil, and others are satisfactory.
Technical Aspects: Coming to the technical aspects, the camera quality and lighting are very poor. No matter how independent the film is, it is important to maintain a minimum level of quality, which is also compulsory when a theatrical release is planned. The team failed in that regard. The art department has given good output in the budget given to them.
Bandi Saroj Kumar excels more as a technician than as an actor in this film. He took on multiple roles, serving as the director, storyteller, editor, and music director, but his strongest work shines through in editing and music direction. The sharp cuts and transitions keep the film’s pace lively, and the background score, especially during the cricket scenes, adds a positive touch.
Analysis: As a director and storyteller, Bandi Saroj Kumar often tailors his films and characters to cater to the ego of a particular audience segment. Whether depicting a cheating lover, someone misusing atrocity laws, or a caste leader engaged in caste politics, his attempt to address societal issues by giving “class” to most characters is commendable but ultimately feels tedious.
Specifically, Lovaraju’s PK-style lectures and dialogues, meant to elevate the character, fail to entertain the general audience and do little beyond appealing to a niche group. While the elevations were well-executed, he exercised excessive cinematic liberty. There are so many scenes that lack proper logic and have been overlooked in the film.
The lack of popular faces or noted actors also goes against this film in a big way. Bandi Saroj Kumar tries too hard to impress but has made a half-baked project which has a high aim but falters with its execution.
While highlighting the harsh realities of society is crucial, it’s equally important to infuse these issues with the right emotions and address them with solid technical execution. In this aspect, Bandi Saroj Kumar seems to have missed the mark. It would be challenging for most viewers to endure the 131 minutes of Parakram in theaters.
Verdict: Overall, Parakramam as a central idea is okay. The thought process behind the drama and conflict is also okay. But how it is narrated without a lack of strong emotions is the biggest drawback and makes this film a tedious watch this weekend.
Bottom Line: Misses the target
Rating: 1.5/5
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