Game Changer review: Ram Charan and SJ Suryah make this political tug of war worth watching

Over the years Shankar has created a niche for himself as a director tackling issues of corruption and presenting social crusaders of different natures. Some of his protagonists take extreme measures like the extremely popular Gentleman (1993) and Anniyan (Aparichitudu) (2005).

On the other hand, you have Mudhalvan (1999), in which a television presenter becomes a chief minister. He ends up repairing the rotten system while staying within his powers.

Despite repeatedly tackling corruption themes in different forms, Shankar has enjoyed a huge fan base in not just Tamil but also Telugu. His Tamil dubbed movies have many admirers, in the recent past though the celebrated director has lost his mojo due to certain datedness, Bharateeyudu 2 (2024) being the best example.

The recent release Game Changer comes with a lot of pressure for Shankar, as there are doubts about his abilities to adapt to the present audience.

Synopsis

With Game Changer, Shankar proves that he has still got it, particularly the way in which he has designed the different shades of Ram Charan’s character and some solid moments between the protagonist and the antagonist.

He also discusses vote bank politics, in which poor people are given money to vote for a candidate belonging to a specific political party.

The storyline of Game Changer focuses on the battle between Ram Nandan and his father Appanna. It is about a generational fight between a father and son against societal injustices. SJ Suryah plays the chief antagonist Bobbli Mopidevi.

Bobbli has major aspirations of being a chief minister. To fulfil those dreams, Bobbli can go to any extent. Senior actor Srikanth also plays the grey-shaded character of Bobbli Satyamurthy. In the flashback portions, Bobbli is initially shown to be an admirer of Appanna, but things take a very drastic turn.

Strong aspects

Game Changer is a political drama
‘Game Changer’ is a political drama. (X)

As already mentioned a strong aspect of Game Changer is how Shankar has designed the dual roles of Ramcharan. The character of Ram Nandan on the one hand is high on swagger and Ram Charan pulls it off in a charismatic manner.

He brings in the required authority to command the screen, particularly in the confrontation scenes with SJ Suryah. As Appanna he brings in an emotional depth. Appana is a man who suffers from a serious stutter.

In spite of his inability to deliver powerful speeches, Appanna is driven by a single-minded goal of changing the corrupt political system. Ram Charan does a very good job of bringing out the various nuances.

SJ Suryah has emerged as a wonderful character artiste in the last few years and in this one too, the actor makes for an extremely formidable antagonist. SJ Suryah does a terrific job of portraying the obsession of Bobbli Mopidevi.

His trademark dialogue delivery coupled with the mannerisms is a delight to watch. Srikant in a grey-shaded role also deserves appreciation for his effective portrayal of a guilt-ridden man. The way he showcases the transition of Bobbli Satyamurthy from an admirer to a backstabber has been wonderfully written and enacted.

Among the two female leads Anjali as Appanna’s wife leaves a significant impact. Her role as Parvathy is an important emotional anchor and this has come out very well despite having less screen time. The mother and son scenes in the second half are another major asset.

Weak aspects

Ram Charan in Game Changer
Ram Charan in ‘Game Changer’. (X)

A major drawback of Game Changer is the insipid love story between Ram Charan and Kiara. All the sequences featuring the two have been weakly written.

Kiara doesn’t bring much to the table, other than looking beautiful and dancing energetically. Also, the portions featuring the likes of Priyadarshini and Satya among others are a major misfire. Despite their proven abilities, the comedic situations lack the required punch.

The climax is also too elongated with repetitive action sequences. The movie needed a much crisper edit in the closing portions. The cat-and-mouse game between Ram Charan and SJ Suryah though well-written gets repetitive.

Technical aspects

Thaman’s songs also enhance the narrative. On one hand, there is the upbeat “Jaragandi” and “Raa Macha Macha”. On the other hand, there is also the soulful “Arugu Meedha” picturised on Ram Charan and Anjali. Thaman has also delivered a thumping background score, particularly the portions elevating Ram Nandan.

Like most of Shankar’s movies, this too is visually grand. Cinematographer Tiru does a very fine in capturing the grand visuals through his lens. Sai Madhav Burra’s dialogues are also quite effective particularly the ones featuring Ram Charan and SJ Suryah.

The portions where Ram Nandan talks about the dangers of accepting money from a political party and subsequently voting for a particular person deserve a special mention.

Final take

Overall Game Changer is a passable political drama majorly enhanced by Ram Charan’s double role and S J Suryah’s antics. Don’t expect vintage Shankar and chances are you won’t be disappointed. For die-hard Ram Charan fans though the movie would be an absolute treat.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

Satyaprem Ki Katha: A Heartwarming Story that Makes You Want A Real-Life Partner Like Kartik Aaryan’s Sattu

An important aspect of Sameer Vidwans’s ‘Satyaprem Ki Katha’ is how it looks at the issue of consent in relationships.

Addresses pertinent social issues.
Satyaprem Ki Katha (Hindi)
  • Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani, Gajraj Rao, Supriya Pathak, Rajpal Yadav, and Shikha Talsania
  • Direction: Sameer Vidwans
  • Producers: Sajid Nadiadwala, Shareen Mantri Kedia, and Kishan Arora
  • Music: Meet Bros, Tanishk Bagchi, and Payal Dev
  • Runtime: 2 hours 26 minutes

There is a famous quote in English which says that “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. This goes perfectly well with the film Satyaprem Ki Katha.

The trailer promised a breezy romantic film, but it is more than just a rom-com. Director Sameer Vidwans addresses some pertinent social issues through the lens of a romantic drama.

Synopsis

Satyaprem aka Sattu (Kartik Aaryan) is an underdog who falls in love with Katha (Kiara Advani). Katha belongs to different strata of society which is out of Sattu’s league.

However, circumstances not only bring them together but also get them married. Nevertheless, the marriage doesn’t take off.

Katha comes with a haunting past. Initially, the viewers think it is a case of a bad break-up with her ex-boyfriend. However, it turns out to be more sinister.

The crux of Satyaprem ki Katha is about two things primarily — one is how Sattu wins Katha over; secondly, it is about Katha letting go of her trauma and finding the courage to face the truth.

Picks up pace in second half

The movie does take time to get going. The boy-meets-girl moments don’t have a lot of meat. The director takes time to get to the real meat of the story.

But its picks up after the marriage of Sattu and Katha. The interval point further raises the expectations of the audience and the second half drama is one of the film’s biggest selling points.

Sameer Vidwans does a wonderful job of showing how the relationship evolves between Sattu and Katha. The evolution is not only about their relationship but also about their individual characters.

Societal issues

An important aspect of Satyaprem Ki Katha is how it looks at the issue of consent in relationships.

The film also briefly reminds you of the famous Amitabh Bachchan dialogue “A No is a No”.

Kiara’s Katha is a victim of date rape. Her ex-boyfriend penetrates her badly, even when she resists. Katha’s father has no idea about this.

Kartik Aaryan’s Sattu does come across as too idealistic with his patient behaviour. But as viewers, you don’t mind because Sattu is not presented as some social reformer.

Sattu, of course, has his moments of frustration and the change in his character happens gradually.

The film has also got some entertaining family moments. The best examples are the ones featuring Kartik Aaryan and his on-screen dad Gajraj Rao. There is visible warmth between them in both the comic and emotional bits.

Director Sameer Vidwans presents an authentic middle-class milieu.

Cinematographer Ayananka Bose does a good job of capturing the locality of Ahmedabad.

Performances

The songs composed by multiple composers are mostly melodious. The best of the lot is “Naseeb Se and Aaj Ke Baad“. “Gujju Pataka“, on the other hand, isn’t high on lyrics but Kartik’s dancing along with the peppy tune makes it an energetic track.

Out of the two leads, Kartik Aaryan scores more with his act. He is not only good in the goofy bits but shines equally in intense scenes.

Kiara Advani takes some time to settle down. The reason behind her character’s aloofness doesn’t have the required emotional heft in the beginning. But both Kiara and her character get better as the film progresses. Overall, she delivers a competent performance.

Final verdict

In Satyaprem Ki Katha, Katha is fortunate to have a happy ending which many women can’t hope to have. Many more Sattus are the need of the hour!

(Views expressed here are personal.)

Govinda Naam Mera: An Entertaining Khichdi Of Genres

Not a masterpiece but an engaging watch!

Govinda Naam Mera (Hindi)

  • Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Kiara Advani, Bhumi Pednekar, Renuka Shahane, Amey Wagh, Dayanand Shetty, Sayaji Shinde, and Ranbir Kapoor (special appearance)
  • Director: Shashank Khaitan
  • Producers: Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Shashank Khaitan
  • Music: Meet Bros, Tanishkh Bagchi, B Praak, Sachin Jigar, and Rochak Kohli
  • Runtime: 2 hours and 11 minutes
  • OTT platform: Disney+Hotstar

Shashank Khaitan is known for directing romantic films: the Dulhania franchise and Janhvi Kapoor’s Dhadak. With Govinda Naam Mera, the director switches gears by mixing comedy with thriller.

It starts in a certain manner but soon goes on a different path altogether. Shashank Khaitan’s direction isn’t watertight but it is an enjoyable watch.

Govinda Naam Mera tells the story of a Bollywood background dancer Govinda Waghmare (Vicky Kaushal). He is also an aspiring choreographer.

Govinda is petrified of his spouse Gauri (Bhumi Pednekar). They live in a mansion in the heart of Mumbai but the mansion is caught in a legal dispute, thanks to Govinda’s father Gopi Vishwakarma (Wilson Tiger).

Vishwakarma is married to Charulata (Veenah Naair) and they have a son. However, he has an affair with Govinda’s mother Asha Waghmare (Renuka Shahane). Vishwakarma leaves the mansion for Asha when he dies.

Since then, Asha and Charulata keep fighting in court for the ownership of the mansion.


Additionally, Govinda’s marriage is in deep trouble. He is in love with his fellow background dancer Sukku (Kiara Advani) who wants him to leave Gauri, but it is easier said than done.

Fed up with Gauri’s behaviour, Govinda buys a gun for ₹2 lakh from inspector Javed (Dayanand Shetty). However, he doesn’t have the guts to shoot her.

Things take a turn when Govinda and Sukku are asked to choreograph a music video for Sandeep Dharkar aka Sandy (Jeeva), son of the dreaded politician Ajit Dharkar (Sayaji Shinde).

They agree but things don’t go according to plan. Ajit is furious with how the video turned out. Instead of paying the amount, he asks them for a refund.

In short, Govinda’s problems are aplenty. At this point, things change for the better but it doesn’t last long. He gets embroiled in a murder mystery.

The rest of the story is about how he gets out of all this mess and what happens to his dream of being a choreographer, among other aspects.

Over-the-top yet amusing to watch

Director Shashank Khaitan wastes no time in setting up the world of Govinda. His love for Sukku and his fear of Gauri makes you invested.

The scenes depicting the legal dispute are showcased in a light-hearted manner.

These portions are quite over-the-top but are amusing to watch. Ranbir Kapoor’s cameo has also been smartly integrated.

Sukku is a fan of Ranbir Kapoor, while Govinda is a fan of Ranveer. The interaction between Vicky and Ranbir is short but it brings a smile to your face.

There is also a reference to Brahmastra 2 when Ranbir talks about Ranveer playing the lead in his next production. It is a nice meta-touch.

Things slow down in the middle but the film becomes more engaging when Govinda gets embroiled in a murder mystery. From here on, there are some interesting twists and turns, particularly with the characters of Sukku and Govinda.

The final 30 minutes are particularly gripping and the ending does catch you off guard.

On the flip side, some of the plot points come across as contrived. A chase scene involving Govinda and Sandy in the second half could have been easily avoided.

Bhumi Pednekar as Gauri suffers from a sketchy characterisation. Her family background is never properly established and this reduces the impact of the character.

Vicky Kaushal’s best commercial outing

Talking about performances, Vicky Kaushal handles his role with ease. This is Vicky’s most commercial outing so far and the actor doesn’t look out of place in any scene.

His comic timing coupled with his energy propels the narrative in a big way.

Kiara looks beautiful as always but more importantly, she has a good part to play. The actress did a good job. A special mention must be made of her outburst in the second half.

Bhumi Pednekar is loud as required but there is nothing memorable.

Renuka Shahane wholeheartedly embraces the quirkiness of her character. She is fun to watch in her whacky avatar.

The music goes well with the mood of the film. The “Bijli” song, in particular, is energetic and has been well-choreographed by Ganesh Acharya.

Govinda Naam Mera isn’t a masterpiece. But, at the same time, it is not something that will make the audiences tear their hair in frustration.

Jug Jug Jeeyo: A Dramedy That Packs A Punch

In his debut film Good News director Raj Mehta had picked sensitive topics like the complications of IVF along with the difficulty of not being able to conceive. He made sure that the film was accessible to the audiences as he combined entertainment with enough sensitivity. His latest Jug Jug Jeeyo also follows this pattern. In this film the subject is the difficulty of sustaining marriage. Like Good news here too you have two couples, one senior couple and other younger. Another similarity is the Punjabi background. Jug Jug Jeeyo had its share of lapses but it is a dramedy that keeps you involved till the end.

The story of Jug Jug Jeeyo is about two couples. The first one is Bheem and Gita (Anil Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor). They have been married for thirty five years. The other couple is Kukoo and Naina (Varun Dhawan and Kiara Advani). They have been married for five years. Naina and Kukoo had met in fifth grade. In the opening scene you have junior Kukoo screaming at a boy who speaks to Naina because of his possessiveness.  Through a song we get to know their love story and how that leads to marriage. Manish Paul plays Naina’s brother. After the song we move to Canada where the marriage of Kukoo and Naina is falling apart, they decide to separate but before that there is the marriage of Kukoo’s sister Ginny. Kukoo and Naina decide to reveal the news of divorce after marriage but there is a huge shock waiting for Kukoo. The shock is his father is also on the verge of divorce. Bheem is deeply attracted to Kukoo’s Maths teacher played by Tisca Chopra. Bheem is planning to divorce Geeta after the wedding. What follows is a roller coaster that makes you feel various emotions.

The best part of Jug Jug Jeeyo is undoubtedly Anil Kapoor’s Bheem. Bheem is a difficult person to like. He has an extramarital affair, does drama at the top of a hat and tells lies to get out of situations. However Anil Kapoor makes the character work with his brilliant performance. He is too good in both the emotional and also the lighter bits. A scene which deserves a particular mention is when Bheem first tells his son about wanting to have a divorce to the shocked Kukoo. Right after saying that his body language changes, until then he is cheerful but suddenly he goes silent and goes away from there. In the comic bits the actor just leaves you in splits, for example there is a scene In the middle of the road where he cooks up a story about himself rejecting Tisca Chopra’s character where in actuality she has rejected him. Raj Mehta deserves credit for not giving a happy ending to Anil and Neetu’s characters. He makes the wise decision of keeping it open ended. He also deserves credit for not making Neetu come across as loud in spite of playing a Punjabi mother.

Varun Dhawan as Kukoo also stands his own. He is first rate in the scenes showing Kukoo’s insecurities and selfishness. His scenes with Anil are very good to watch. A scene which deserves a particular mention is when Anil Kapoor introduces him to Tisca Chopra in a near empty hall playing Kalank.

The female characters don’t get the same attention as the male counterparts but both Neetu Kapoor and Kiara Advani are immensely watchable. Neetu Kapoor exudes certain warmth in her comeback. Neetu excels big time in the scene where she bares her heart out to Kiara’s Naina. In that scene Geeta opens up about her marriage, and how in the first few days of marriage itself, she wondered whether Bheem is the right person for her. But this scene would have worked better if the director had given an insight into the early days of their marriage.

Manish Paul’s character is mostly one note. Manish does a fair job but he ends up being a mere sidekick.

The Punjabi background plays a spoilsport here. The swelling background score coupled with the typical Punjabi tropes will irritate you. You wish that Tisca Chopra’s character was more developed instead of being just the other woman.

Jug Jug Jeeyo is a wholesome film with the right mix of comedy and seriousness, definitely worth a watch.

Shershah: An Engaging War Drama Within The Confines Of A Familiar Space

Indian war films do follow a certain template and the challenge as a director is how you make it engaging within that genre. Director Vishnu Vardhan’s biopic on Vikram Batra has all the typical ingredients but to the credit of the director he takes a restrained approach, the result is a very watchable film. It also helps that leading man Siddarth Malhotra is in good form. The film can be a game changer for Siddarth. Shershah was a code name given to Vikram Batra during the war.

For those who are not aware Vikram Batra was an officer of Indian army. He was posthumously awarded with Param Vir Chakra for his actions during the 1999 Kargil war. He led one of the toughest operations in mountain warfare in Indian history.

The film’s narrative arc is quite similar to Jahnvi Kapoor’s Gunjan Saxena which was also produced by Dharma. In the opening scene we see Captain Vikram Batra and his troops in middle of the action while they are on their way to destroy the last Pakistani bunker that would recapture the peak. From here we move to the structure of a flash forward narrative. The story of Vikram Batra is narrated by his twin brother also played by Siddarth Malhotra.

The most interesting aspect of the film is Vikram Batra’s equation with the Kashmiri people during his first posting as a lieutenant. We see him getting along with a lot of ease with the local people. He calls them Chacha, uncle etc. The elders also trust Vikram Batra more than his senior officers.

A good example of that is the scene where an elderly man talks to Vikram Batra regarding his son. The son had joined the militants and now he wants to come out of it. While it is difficult to imagine whether all this happened in reality but nevertheless it makes for an engaging watch.

The film comes alive more in the second half when the action shifts to the war. The cinematography by Kamalijeet Negi effectively captures the atmospherics of war and the action scenes along with V affects combined get you into the mood.

The music by Tanishk Bagchi, B Praak etc is also fine and the songs don’t act as speed breakers. My favourite song is the Ranjha one.

The supporting characters have also been written with certain amount of care. Whether that is Shiv Pandit or Sahil Vaid. These supporting characters add quite a lot to the film. Shiv Pandit is particularly impressive out of the supporting cast. The camaraderie that Vikram Batra shares with these men is quite nice to watch.

The love track between Siddarth Malhotra and Kiara Advani’s character Dimple has its share of moments but it isn’t something memorable. It also doesn’t help that Kiara’s Punjabi accent is all over the place.

A big strength of the film apart from its real life story is Siddarth Malhotra’s performance. The actor looks the part and manages to capture the spirit of the real life Vikram Batra. The part of the twin brother isn’t much but he shines there too.

What pulls down the film is some unnecessary things. For example there is a Madhuri Dixit reference in a middle of a war. It feels quite out of place and could have easily been done away with.

Also the writing will remind you of several other war films like Uri etc. But that has also got a lot to do with a fixed template that lot of filmmakers have been using to narrate these kind of stories. A film like Raazi is an exception.

In a nutshell watch Shershah for the spirit of Vikram Batra.