Ram Pothineni has joined hands with Boyapati Sreenu for an action drama called Skanda.
The film which has Sreeleela as the heroine has been released today.
Story: The daughters of the CMs of Telangana and Andhra are kidnapped by an unknown man named Raju(Ram Pothineni).
He is on a mission and is doing all this for Rudraganti Ramakrishna Raju (Srikanth). Who is this Raju and why is doing all this? What is his connection with Ramakrishna Raju?
Performances: Ram goes into beast mode for Skanda. He has bulked up and gives himself totally to Boyapati Sreenu’s narrative.
He is loud, showcases his body, fights, dances, and mouths mass dialogues. In a way, he carries the film on his shoulder.
Sreeleela's exceptional screen presence and dance skills make her an ideal commercial film heroine, while Srikanth's performance is commendable.
Daggubati Raju is also neat in his role. The rest of the cast over-acted a bit.
Technicalities: Thaman has given passable songs. Only two are good but the rest are not that great. Thaman is known for his BGM has given an ordinary score.
The BGM could have been a lot better in many scenes, especially in the fights. The action sequences are amazing and showcase Ram like never before.
The film's production values are solid, with excellent lyrics and design. However, the editing in the second half is subpar, and the narration is jaded in some scenes.
Analysis: One of the biggest defects of Skanda is the routine story. There is nothing much in it even though it starts on a positive note.
The film's intense bloodshed and forced emotions, particularly in the second half, can lead to boredom after a while.
There is also no logic in the film and the same is expected from all Boyapati films.
Boyapati introduces numerous characters and increases screen time, while Ram Pothineni's absence for nearly half an hour is concerning.
Post-intermission, the narrative gets further into the template mode with the revelation behind the actsof the first hour via a flashback.
The film's routine nature is complemented by its real-life relatability and casting, making it passable but evoking a sense of nostalgia for old movies.
The love track and Boyapati's narrative are commendable, but the film's plot becomes monotonous and the scenes are mundane.
Novelty-wise, there is nothing new that Boyapati has shown in the film. Skanda is for mass audiences who love the song and dance routine with multiple fights.
Verdict: Overall, Skanda is only for masses and B, and center audiences. While does well in a beast avatar, the routine story and boring execution get on the nerves.
The action is enjoyable and two songs are enjoyable, but the content will only be appreciated by the intended audience, leaving the rest to ignore.
Rating: 2.5/5