Title: Game Changer
Cast: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, SJ Suryah, Jayaram, Nassar and others
Director: Shankar
Where to watch: In theatres
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Rating: 3 stars
It was quite obvious from the trailer of director Shankar's Telugu endeavour 'Game Changer' that the maverick filmmaker sticks to the familiar troupes--absolutely unabashedly and highly unapologetically! He presents a distinctly corrupt political landscape, shows his technical finesse gathered over the years (over the multiple successful films he has crafted), and he displays how the baton is passed on from one generation to the next as moral principles and ethics remain fiercely guarded. Add to the mix the tried and tested formula of chaos, colors and chemistry--the overtly familiar motifs that define the grandeur of the South films--and you will know why this Ram Charan and Kiara Advani starrer lands in spite of its massive loopholes.
What makes Shankar's film entertaining is the emotional quotient, especially Ram Charan as Appanna and Anjali as Parvathi. Their fight as activists for the downtrodden is intense and interesting. The narrative switches and shifts, so do the color palettes, as we are introduced to Ram Nandan (Ram Charan, again) and Deepika (Kiara Advani). Here the narrative is focused more on how the spotlessly clean IPS officer with anger issues must be set on the right path thanks to Deepika's efforts.
And then you have a story of redemption, a change of heart, so to speak, as CM Satyamuthhy played by Shrikanth and his son Mopidevi played by Suryah, shape the electoral politics. You have to watch the film to understand the dynamics between these towering figures. You will make a huge mistake walking in the dark room anticipating a nuanced and layered tale. If entertainment and big ticket commercial cinema is what you are seeking, then Shankar won't let you down!
Karthik Subbaraj's story seems intricate and perhaps warranted a web-series, given its complexity as indeed the compounding nature of the drama that culminates into something more dramatic. Shankar makes it overly simplistic and grand. In his quest for colorful songs (massive and magical), the screenplay devoted to storytelling takes a backseat. Midway through the film you anticipate more, and more intense, but all you get is highly entertaining pieces choreographed and positioned to play to the gallery.
Such is the pace at which the narrative unfolds that you barely get time to breath. Logic remains suspended through and through, and you are treated with madness, melodrama and the proverbial magic that's so familiar with the territory that is oh-so-synonymous with the logo Shankar.
Ram Charan is dedicated and disciplined both as a performer and as a star. Anjali will win you over with her portrayal while Kiara's warm and soothing presence gives much heft to the character graph of Ram Charan's Nandan. Suryah ranges between loud and thunderbolt loud to the effect. All in all, there's no place for subtlety in Game Changer and the sheer predictability too is converted into entertainment as Shankar wields the megaphone!
