Release Date : August 09, 2024
123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5
Starring : Anasuya, Jagapathi Babu, Kasturi, Divi, Srinath, Kabir Singh
Director : Murali Manohar Reddy
Producers : Sampath Nandi, Rajender Samyukta
Music Director: Krishna Saurabh
Related Links : Trailer
The latest Telugu movie, Simbaa, starring Anasuya Bharadwaj, Jagapathi Babu, Kasturi, Divi, Srinath, and Kabir Singh in pivotal roles, was directed by debutant Murali Manohar Reddy and produced jointly by Sampath Nandi and Rajender. The film hit the screens today. Dive into the review to see how it fares.
Story:
Akhila (Anasuya), a dedicated teacher and caretaker for her disabled husband, is thrown into chaos when she suddenly murders a stranger. As Police Officer Anurag (Vasishta Simha) and journalist Fazil (Srinath) investigate, Fazil also develops a disturbing urge to kill and joins Akhila. Dr. Irani (Aneesh Kuruvilla) soon follows, leading the three to commit murder together. What drives them to commit these crimes? Why are they compelled to kill? How is the enigmatic environmental activist Purushottam Reddy (Jagapathi Babu) related to their story? Discover the unsettling answers by watching the film.
Plus Points:
Simbaa presents a unique wild revenge storyline, incorporating the concepts of cellular and biological memory, alongside a meaningful environmental message about the importance of planting trees. The narrative keeps the audience engaged, particularly by exploring why seemingly good individuals commit heinous acts. This angle is established in an interesting manner.
Anasuya delivers a commendable performance in a key role, excelling both as a dedicated teacher and in her intense action scenes. Jagapathi Babu offers a fresh portrayal as an environmental activist, with his episodes being a highlight of the film. Vasishta Simha is perfectly cast as a serious police officer, and Srinath also delivers a notable performance in a significant role.
The heroine, Divi, makes a nice impression. The character design for Aneesh Kuruvilla is neatly executed. Gautami, Kasturi, and the rest of the actors perform effectively within their respective roles.
Minus Points:
Despite the intriguing concept of biological memory and the valuable environmental message, many scenes unfold too slowly. The film’s treatment of the revenge story feels somewhat conventional. Additionally, the character transformations could have been depicted more convincingly. The reasons behind their behavior need a stronger presentation. A more concise first half could have benefitted the film.
The second half, particularly the flashback episodes, seem prolonged. Some scenes in the flashback appear silly and lack logic. While the environmental message about trees is commendable, its presentation seems overly preachy. The film includes unnecessary scenes that detract from the emotional revenge drama. Reducing the routine scenes and removing the less engaging elements could have significantly improved the film.
Technical Aspects:
Although the concept and message of the film are impressive, the storytelling lacks an engaging flow. The music by Krishna Saurabh is average. However, the cinematography features appealing natural visuals. The editing is well-handled. The production values by Sampath Nandi and Rajender contribute positively to the film’s overall quality.
Verdict:
On the whole, Simbaa offers an emotional revenge drama with a novel concept of biological memory and an important environmental message. While some action and emotional scenes are executed neatly, the slow pacing, missed opportunities in the first half, and some illogical and unnecessary scenes detract from its overall impact. The film’s concept and message are convincing, but the execution and other aspects may not resonate as effectively.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team