Two years of a raging pandemic had gotten filmmakers to revisit their strategy, with many a pundit claiming it was the dawn of the OTT era. As movie-watching experience moved from the silver screen to our smart TVs thanks to theatres being shut, I wondered if we would ever be able to enjoy the good-old cinema going experience. But if someone knows how to make a spectacle and a splash, it is SS Rajamouli.
The Telugu director shot to fame with his magnum opus Baahubali that created ripples around the world and for a brief moment brought cine-lovers across the country together despite the language barrier. Continuing with the tradition, the filmmaker released his much-hyped, crazily-delayed venture ‘RRR’. The film is an out and out masala entertainer. Just the right mix of grandeur, hyper-nationalism, exaggerated action sequences and a wild plot.
The movie is set in pre-partition era with the two lead actors, no wait, we call them heroes here, who are polar opposites. One is a loyal servant of the British empire, while the other is hatching a plan to take on the unjust oppressors. The introduction sequence of both heroes elicited shrill whistles and loud hoots at the theatre I went to watch the film in. The insane action sequence introducing NTR Junior was ridiculous when I saw it and I was like ‘What even is happening?’, but an hour later when the scene wraps up with another cinematic moment, I was left awestruck.
While I could heap praise on that one scene, I felt most other such action sequences were only there for hyper arousal and boy it served its purpose. However, there are some tender moments too sprinkled across the movie aided by beautiful tunes that act as a subtle palate cleanser for the audience. A sequence with a young girl kept in captivity meeting an elder from her tribe was done rather tastefully.
Both Ram Charan and NTR Junior play their characters to perfection. Alia has a small and honestly, pretty pointless role. Ajay Devgn is great in the very small portion that he appears on the screen. Shriya Saran unfortunately doesn’t even have a dialogue.
Most things work for the film except for the end which is just a crazy mix of nationalism, mythology and well, to be honest, absurdity. But the audience in the cinema hall surely relished each bit and refused to get up till the credits rolled completely, which is something that I have never seen. If you are a fan of grandeur, action and masala, and have three hours to spare, give it a shot while it’s still running in the theatres because it will just be a drag on the small screen!
It’s a 6.5/10 from me.
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