Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy

Britishers are establishing their rule across India and forcing citizens to pay insanely high taxes. The setting is Renadu in the 1840s where villagers reel under oppression from the British, forced to sometimes even choose between their food grains and basic dignity. It’s a story often told on the silver screen whenever we talk of India’s years-long struggle for Independence, something we would only gain in 1947. But the story of Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy is something not many talk or even know of. A man whose rebellion is said to inspire many battles that followed later on, even that of Jhansi Lakshmi Bai. A palegaar from Kurnool, Narasimha Reddy (Chiranjeevi) grows up with vengeance in his blood against the British who mistreat his loving people. Under the tutelage of his guru Gosayi Venkanna (Amitabh Bachchan), he learns the art of war lies not in dying or killing, but in winning it at any cost. Growing up, he falls in love with a classical dancer Lakshmi (Tamannaah), whose art he believes is best used not in service of god, but people. His betrothed Siddhamma (Nayanthara) later decides to help him in his rebellion, even if it means staying away from him. History books are proof of how this tale ends for the revolutionary, that’s no surprise. But what’s surprising is that, despite being an often told tale of the underdog rising against the oppressor, Surender Reddy’s screenplay makes no attempt to bring any kind of emotional depth to the story. And for a tale that involves not just a love triangle, but numerous players (Narasimha Reddy’s fellow palegaars) who keep changing their mind according to whim and keep falling to the materialistic and emotional trappings of the Britishers, not to mention the full-blown war at the end of the tale, it sure lacks depth. Don’t get us wrong, Sai Madhav Burra’s dialogues do their bit to whip the audience into frenzy at key points in the tale, Julius Packiam’s score is a delight, Greg Powell, Lee Whittaker and Ram-Laxman’s stunts keep you at the edge of your seat, even if they’re overly stylised at parts, and Rathnavelu’s cinematography is enchanting. But the screenplay could’ve definitely been tighter, not to mention have more gravitas, apart from Sreekar Prasad’s editing, which could’ve been more seamless. The VFX and art direction in certain key scenes didn’t help much either. But all said and done, despite the spectacular star cast, who are sometimes reduced to playing second fiddle (except for Avuku Raju (Kichcha Sudeep) whose scenes with Narasimha Reddy are fire), this is Chiranjeevi’s show all the way. The actor has always had a larger-than-life persona, even in films that existed just to show off his dancing skills and comedy timing. So he seems to have sunk his teeth into the titular role with all his might and given it his all. Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy doesn’t just work because of its technical brilliance, but also because the Megastar is heading the show. The story-telling has its flaws, but the characters are intriguing. What’s impressive is the massive canvas the film is mounted on. Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy might work only in bits and pieces, but the scenes in which the film works makes it all worthwhile!

On the whole, Sye Raa is a superbly made patriotic drama that hits the right note with its emotions, performances, and narration. Chiranjeevi leads from the front and gives a stellar performance. Though the film starts a bit slow, it picks up supremely well and gives the audience an emotional rush throughout. Box office wise, the film will do extremely well and Ram Charan has surely made his dad’s dream come true by making Sye Raa a must watch this festive season. Go for it.

At one level,this film is heavily fashioned as a template-driven entertainer. It's also unabashedly old-fashioned,content with its mass-masala tropes.