Introduction:
Pan-India star Prabhas and Pooja Hegde’s Radhe Shyam was advertised as an epic love story. The movie tries to prove that palmistry is a science. The acknowledged disciplines of physics, medicine, pathology, and chemistry, on the other hand, are readily ignored (as there was none between the main leads).
Analysis:
Vikramaditya(Prabhas) is a world-renowned palmist, a committed disciple of Guru Paramahamsa, a kind son, and a good friend, who consistently predicts the future. His character is a pleasure seeker who enjoys flings (or "flirtationships") with ladies. He states throughout the film that he cannot fall in love because he lacks a love line. In summary, his character embodies all of the stereotypes associated with the typical Indian male protagonist, who possesses everything but love. But everything changes for him when he meets Prerana (Pooja Hegde). Prabhas appeared uneasy in the role of Vikramaditya, maybe due to the script's insufficiency.
Prerana's character is also a bit of a stereotype. Driven by her restlessness, she approaches random men on trains and asks them to hold her noose and let her swing forth. Regardless matter where she is, she enjoys feeling the rain and the air around her and simply opens her arms to embrace it. These are characteristics that only a mainstream Indian female lead possesses. Prerana has a lot of spare time on her hands and works part-time as a surgeon. She is also cautious of partnerships and likes flings, which makes her an ideal match for Vikramaditya. Except that it doesn't quite fit! The two characters barely have any chemistry, which is necessary for all of the extreme events in the film.
The protagonists have a typical 90s Bollywood romance: the boy chases and stalks the girl, the girl initially resists but eventually gives in, the boy declares he doesn't want a relationship just as the girl has fallen deeply in love, a dreamy ballroom dance that appears out of nowhere, and a climax. Not appropriate for an adult audience!
Bhagyashree plays Vikramaditya's mother. As a result, her character has all the characteristics of a conventional Bollywood "Maa" to make her appear credible as a mother! She enjoys classical dancing and cuisine, which had no bearing on the plot. Vedant, Vikramaditya's best buddy, appears to be a permanent resident in his home; he acts as his mother's substitute son but allows his friend to steal the show.
Guru Paramahamsa (played by Sathyaraj) is (supposed to be) an imposing, intellectual teacher, which is why his entrance is accompanied by an overwhelming soundtrack. Anand Rajput (Jagapathi Babu) plays a politician who initially appears to be a villain but subsequently proves to be a minor character in the film. Prerana's uncle, Sachin Khedekar, is a surgeon who solely visits the hospital to check on her personal life. Other members of Prerana's family have barely a few lines in the film. Many prominent personalities from Hindi and Telugu cinema appear in the film, yet their talents are wasted. The characters are so cliched that the creators didn't bother to connect them to the story appropriately.
The film is set in the 1970s, although the time period shifts between the 1700s and the early 2000s at random. The hospital is designed to look like a university, with frills on the bed linens and technology that is well ahead of its time for the 1970s. Prerana's room resembles that of a colonial heiress, complete with a metal brush for combing her hair and other pastimes. The story is set in Rome (for no apparent reason), although there is nothing particularly Roman about the environment. Every scene in the film might easily be mistaken for what an average Indian imagines Europe to be like.
Even if the script isn't excellent, good cinematography is becoming standard in mainstream films. "Radhe Shyam," on the other hand, stands out for its crude cinematography. Certain images and scene cuts in the film are types that lost their appeal after the 1990s. Several tense sequences towards the film's climax are amusing and meme-worthy. The director interrupts the narration's flow, as though random events were forced together to compose a film.
Conclusion:
Most viewers will not comprehend that the film is named Radhe Shyam to represent ill-fated love because of the bad narration. To be honest, the film's concept was fairly good and had a lot of potentials. Despite this, the film's essence was threatened by its bad execution. As a result, "Radhe Shyam" is a definite "no-no" for a discerning audience.
My Rating: 5/10
