Review : RRR : StoRy of FiRe and WateR!
In recent times there has been an awakening of sorts towards #SouthIndianfilms. A lot of remakes of south films are being made in Hindi and quite a few dubbed south films have done exceptionally well in Hindi belt. Recent example being #AlluArjun’s #Pushpa. His dialogue ‘#JhukegaNahi’ became a rage and the attitude that dialogues carries has been lapped up by many. Even in recently released #SSRajamouli’s ‘#RRR’ the protagonist has the similar attitude which’ll be liked by the viewers as it’s wrapped in patriotism. Alter #Bahubali, there were huge expectations from SS Rajamouli and RRR meets those albeit a few flaws. The story looks illogical at many places but the direction of SS Rajamouli lifts the film to another level. And that’s the magic os SS Rajamouli who is considered the best director in India with whom every actors wants to work with. In RRR Bollywood’s two big names, #AjayDevgn and #AliaBhatt, are associated. Though they have minuscule screen time Rajamouli has cashed in their prowess as performers.
RRR is a period film which takes place around 1920s. It’s story of two legendary revolutionaries, A Rama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (Jr NTR) who take on the mighty British empire. The story is fictional though inspired by the real characters. One is fiRe and the other is wateR. Two contrasting layers of the opposite personalities cross each other’s paths not knowing their real identities. Bheem wants to rescue a small girl, Malli, from their Gond tribe who has been abducted by the Governor Scott Buxton (Ray Stevenson) and his viscous wife Lady Scott (Alison Doody) who is after poor Indian’s blood, literally. Rama is a serving police officer who is denied promotion despite being a deserving candidate. The apartheid nature of the British is underlined here. Bheem is in a disguise and wants to topple the British government and Rama is after him under orders from his white rulers. After numerous mind blowing fights Rama is successful is arresting Rama and the rulers sentence him a death penalty. How Bheem fights the British brutality and what role Rama plays in it is the crux of the story which is mounted on a larger than life scale.
RRR’s story has nothing much to offer and dwindles as far as logic is concerned. Screenplay looks quite lengthy and needed to be cropped at quite a few places. The run time of (186 min) is too long despite fabulously choreographed action scenes. Rajamouli has taken care of presenting his two lead actors in a grand fashion and both get lengthy interesting introduction scenes. The action is superlative, and if logic is kept aside, It is enjoyable. SS Rajamouli shows why he is a master craftsman. He provides visual extravaganza and at times surpasses his previous work i.e. Bahubali. Though the film basically is in Telugu, it’s Hindi version too has a mass appeal and there are quite a few ‘Siri Maar’ moments. Rajamouli brings back the magic of masala entertainers with sleekness of technology and muscular grandstanding. His penchant for fantasy and mythology is incorporated in screenplay which will please certain sections of the audience. The music is good especially ‘Nacho Nacho’ song which is fabulously choreographed and will compel everyone to dance. The production value, CGI, VFX raise the bar to make the film a power-packed cinematic blitzkrieg.
Both Ram Charan and Jr NTR have given it all to their respective performances. The south films are known for their melodrama which is carried forward here too. Both have executed action scenes with elan and have tried to infuse convincing quality in their performances. The attack by Bheem along with his captured animals, including tigers, on British Governor’s palatial house is a visual spectacle and there are quite a few similar action scenes which elevates the film’s narrative. Ajay Devgn as Bheem’s father is effortless as usual in a cameo and so is Alia Bhatt as Sita. Olivia Morris as Jennifer is good too as a love interest of Bheem.
Larger than life characters of Ram Charan and Jr NTR will be loved by their telugu fans and despite weaker script SS Rajamouli has infused mass elements to please them.
Rating : ***1/2