Film: Bhaag Saale
Rating: 1.5/5
Cast: Sri Simha, Neha Solanki, Nandini Rai, Rajeev Kanakala, John Vijay, Satya, Sudarshan, Varshini Sounderarajan, Harsha Chemudu etc
Editing: Karthika Srinivas
Cinematogrpahy: Kushendar Ramesh Reddy
Music: Kaala Bhairava
Producers: Arjun Dasyan, Yash Rangineni and Singanamala Kalyan
Director: Praneeth Bramandapally
Release Date: 7 July 2023
Sri Simha, the son of Keeravani, has been striving to establish himself as an actor, but he has yet to achieve significant success since his debut in 'Mathu Vadalara'. His last two films fared poorly at the box office, and now he has come up with 'Bhaag Sale'.
Let's see what this film has to offer.
Story:
The film begins with the protagonist Arjun (played by Sri Simha) running, and a voiceover takes us back in time to reveal the reason behind his frantic escape.
Arjun is a middle-class guy who is in love with Maya (Neha Solanki), a girl from a wealthy background. In an attempt to impress her, he pretends to be affluent, showcasing a rented Jaguar as his own and making grandiose claims during phone conversations.
Meanwhile, a villainous gang led by Samuel (John Vijay) relentlessly pursues a powerful ring called 'Sali Suka Gaja'. This ring has the ability to make anyone who wears it wealthy. Samuel is infatuated with Nalini (Nandini Rai), a former servant turned actress who desires the ring. Samuel's goal is to obtain the ring for Nalini.
In the course of events, Samuel kidnaps Maya's father, and now Arjun's task is to retrieve Maya's father by delivering the ring to Samuel.
Artists' Performances:
Sri Simha's performance is passable, but he still needs to exhibit a unique charm or standout ability to distinguish himself from the crowd. His portrayal appears ordinary, and the character itself is mediocre in the context of the story.
Neha Solanki is photogenic. However, she doesn't have much to do other than showcasing her cute looks and performing run-of-the-mill scenes.
Nandini Rai adds glamour to her vampish role.
Rajeev Kanakala as Murthy's father and Bindu Chandramouli as the mother are adequate in their respective roles.
Satya, portraying the police cop Promise Reddy, brings some laughter to the audience.
Varshini, playing Ramya, delivers an acceptable performance but has limited screen time.
Harsha Chemudu's character lacks significant substance.
Technical Expertise:
From a technical standpoint, the film fails to earn any special appreciation except for its editing. It is a relief that the film wraps up in a concise 2-hour duration. Otherwise, enduring it would have been a cumbersome experience.
The music by Kalabhairava is not worth mentioning. Not a single song manages to catch the listener's attention. As the scion of Keeravani, he falls short of his father's reputation.
The cinematography is satisfactory.
Highlights:
Duration
Drawbacks:
Story
Screenplay
Direction
Music
Dialogues
Analysis:
Farce comedies have their place as a genre, but it is not enough to rely solely on the treatment that suits this genre. There should be a strong entertainment quotient in the flow of events and dialogues.
Despite Sri Simha belonging to the family of Keeravani and Rajamouli, it is astonishing that he is part of a film of this C-grade range. While it is understood that the elders in Sri Simha's family may not be directly involved in his film choices, it is customary to consider the content and how it will be handled, hailing from a strong family of successful films.
It appears that Sri Simha simply jumped into this film because the producers welcomed him. There is no clue as to why the producers decided to make this nonsensical film.
The film contains objectionable dialogues, and here are a few examples:
- "Guddu pette kodike telustundi '....' noppi"
- "Gootlo raayi teesi '...' pettukunnattu"
- "Daarinapoyina kampani '...' tagilinchukunnattu"
- "Nee lapakiki pedathaanuraa naa gun" (looking down suggestively)
Although the objectionable word pronounced as "gudda" means "cloth," it is unnecessary to explain how vulgar it sounds in the given context.
Both the first half and second half of the film relentlessly maintain the same tempo. It is a two-hour torture for audiences who enter the theater with expectations and a guaranteed headache for those who come in without any expectations.
If 'Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari' is considered the best film in the history of Telugu cinema featuring a 'ring' element, 'Bhaag Saale' can be rated as the worst one with the same 'ring' element.
The film's title can be seen as a direct cautionary address to the audience.
Bottom Line: Bhaag Audience!
