Srikanth Review: Rajkummar Rao is brilliant in this entertaining and not-so-ordinary biopic

While we are still not over Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 12th Fail, a new Bollywood biopic is here; Rajkummar Rao's Srikanth - the movie that tells the inspiring story of a blind man who went on to become an industrialist. Like I have said in my reviews many times before, a biopic is the most challenging kind of genre. While you already have a story in place, how you are going to mount it is a big task.

In the case of Srikanth, many (including me) had an idea that the movie might be over-emotional, and you end up shedding a lot of tears. However, it's not. Director Tushar Hiranandani has celebrated the life of Srikanth and told his swagger story most entertainingly and freshly, as one could ever imagine. With no space for sorrow, regret, and sympathy that generally comes intact when we think of people with disabilities. 

What's the story of Srikanth?

The movie tells the story of Srikanth, who was born blind in Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, into a poor farmer  family.

Overjoyed with the birth of a boy, his father drinks and dances as he carries his newborn in his hand. With the dream of seeing his son become a big cricketer, he names him after cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth. However, this all happens before he comes to know his son is blind.

After being warned by the relatives and people around him about how Srikanth's life would be, his father tried to end his life, a day after he was born. However, his mother saves him.

The kid grows up and is living a happy life but still full of challenges and bullying.

However, he's smart enough to fight back, as this is the only option he has.

A genius in studies, Srikanth is sent to the special school for visually impaired children in Hyderabad, where he meets Devaki (Jyothika), a teacher in the school, who ends up becoming Srikanth’s first and forever guardian.

Teacher (as Srikanth refers to her in the film) is by his side from all highs to lows; from keeping him in her home to his first court case on allowing blind students to study science, to the idea of sending him to abroad for further studies after they get bored of fighting with the system over different things due to his disability. 

Srikanth chose to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a scholarship. He has planned his sorted life in the USA, where he has several good job offers. However following his girlfriend Swathi's (Alaya F) advice, he decides to leave everything behind and take a flight back to India to make things better for himself and the people like him. 

With the hope of building his own business to prove that his disability is his power, Srikanth, in the end, wins his battle against all odds. 

Narration of the movie

Writers Jagdeep Sidhu and Sumit Purohit have narrated the story of Srikanth in the most effective and immersive way. From the frame, when the evergreen song ''Papa Kahte Hain'' plays, everything gets joyous, with no feeling of sorrow. At one time you may get sad over Srikanth's challenges, while at the other you will enjoy, seeing him winning over everything, proving that he's capable of everything. 

Srikanth's dedication and resilience towards his goals end up inspiring us all. But at the same time, the movie delivers the industrialist's message over the stereotypical thought process that people have for blind people, that they are not capable of anything other than begging, making candles or charity.

Director Tushar and writers Jagdeep and Sumit have fairly narrated the story without doing whitewashing of the story.

What works and what not?

The movie's story runs smoothly, with a happy and fun tone in the back. In a two-hour long film, we get to know about Srikanth's whole life in a detailed way, with every part of his life getting a fair on-screen presence, whether it's his childhood, his college life in India and the USA, or most importantly when he sets up his business.

Apart from Srikanth's remarkable life, the movie is much more about the life of a blind person, and the challenges that one goes through in a world where people only see them as helpless beings, who are of no use on the planet. 

The film gets additional points for its dialogue, which will surely stay with you for a long time. While the first half of the movie was full of entertainment, the second part was kind of lengthy. Nevertheless, everything gets right when you see Rajkummar's witty smile and see him conquering his world.

Most of the movie tells the heroic story of Srikanth with utmost simplicity and authenticity. Yet, in the second half when they show the vulnerable side of Srikanth, when he starts to have the arrogance that he starts to have over his achievements, leaves a deep and apparent impact on the viewer.

The performances

Rajkummar Rao is one of the actors who can be trusted with any role. In his short career span, he has established his name among the most versatile actors. Talking about this movie, Rao has gotten into the skin of the character in the most commendable way, from very tiny details, whether it was his eyes blinking, the head shaking,  to his smile.  Playing a blind man is a tough job, and Rao did this most organically, staying within the limits of character. Not in a single frame can I recall he has overdone. 

What adds more charm to the movie is the supporting cast and best-on-screen chemistry.

Jyothika's soft portrayal as teacher Devika brings more sweetness to the film.

Sharad Khelker, like always, delivered a convincing performance in the limited screen time as his business partner Ravi Mantha.

Alaya F, as Swathi, Srinkanth's sweetheart plays her part perfectly. 

Why You Should Watch Srikanth in Theatres

In a time when Bollywood is giving back-to-back duds with lacklustre content, Srikanth is a type of quality content that deserves to be celebrated at the box office.

Instead of waiting for its OTT release, go and watch this movie with your children and you will step out of the theatre with a sweet smile.