Allu Arjun and Trivikram have teamed up for the family entertainer ‘S/O Satyamurthy’. The movie has hit the screens today and this combination is coming after the success of ‘Julayi’. Allu Arjun is also in good form, with the success of ‘Race Gurram’ . Can this team pull off one more commercial hit ? Read on to find out.
Story :
Viraj Anand (Allu Arjun) is a rich NRI who lives a carefree life. His world shatters when his father Satyamurthy (Prakash Raj) passes away in a freak accident. Satyamurthy is a man of principles and he keeps giving money to anyone and everyone who seeks his help.
The sudden demise puts a strain on the family’s finances and they lose all their wealth to creditors and banks. Rajendra Prasad is a rich guy and a friend of Satyamurthy. He is also a miser who puts money over everything else. Rajendra Prasad offers Viraj Anand a way out of the mess, but the young man declines, citing values.
The family moves to India and Anand starts rebuilding his life. Unexpected luck strikes in the form of a wedding contract and just when the financial position seems ok, Rajendra Prasad reveals details about a land that was sold by Satyamurthy.
The land is under occupation by a ruthless village strongman named Devaraj (Upendra). Anand also happens to be in love with Rajendra Prasad’s daughter Sameera aka Subbalakshmi (Samantha).
To win his love and uphold the name of his dad, Viraj Anand must fight Devaraj. How he goes about this is what this movie is all about.
Plus Points :
- Allu Arjun has given a restrained performance in the movie and this is a very new avatar for him. Instead of his usual exuberance, there is soberness. It has suited the character well. He looks quite stylish.
- Samantha has given a decent performance as Sameera. Kudos to her for accepting a role that makes her a diabetic patient. Not many leading heroines would do that. Nithya Menen shines in a brief but vital role.
- Rajendra Prasad is top class and he carries the film on his shoulders, especially in the second half. Together with Brahmanandam, he infuses some much needed comedy into the film. This second half is what saves the film from becoming a disaster. A good climax, which ties up the loose ends nicely, is another asset.
- Upendra’s characterisation came out well and he was well supported by Sneha. Kota Srinivasa Rao and the other artistes did a reasonably good job.
Minus Points :
- The first half of the film is too slow and it is a major liability. Fans expect certain things from an Allu Arjun and Trivikram film and they will be disappointed with the first half.
- The placement of songs is not good. Too many songs keep coming in during the first half, spoiling the flow. Adah Sharma’s performance is a bit jarring. Ali’s comedy does not really work in this movie.
- Vennela Kishore has been wasted in a meaningless role. In fact, this is one of the weakest Trivikram films in terms of comedy, if you discount a few scenes between Rajendra Prasad and Brahmanandam.
- The romantic track between Allu Arjun and Samantha could have been handled better. Except for one or two good sequences, the fights in the film are mediocre at best.
Special Mention : It was nice to see M.S. Narayana garu on screen. But because of his tragic death, someone else dubbed for him and the end result is quite jarring. There is nothing much one can do in these circumstances. So while the output is not satisfactory, it is not fair to list this as a negative point either.
Technical Aspects :
Cinematography is good and Trivikram has used his favorite green tint for a crucial fight sequence. Devi Sri has given an ok album for the movie and the same can be said about his re-recording work. Editing is below par, especially in the first half.
This is perhaps Trivikram’s weakest film in recent times. Be it in terms of entertainment levels or his handling of sensitive family emotions, the Trivikram touch is missing from this film.
Verdict :
‘S/O Satyamurthy’ is not your average Allu Arjun movie that offers loads of entertainment and terrific dances. It is not a typical Trivikram entertainer either. Instead, it ends up as an average family entertainer that might just scrape through because of the summer holidays. A decent second half and an emotional climax redeem this movie and offset a shoddy first half.
Critic’s Rating – 3 /5
BOX OFFICE POTENTIAL : Good
