When Star Producer A.M. Rathnam made the exciting decision to support the young and talented hero Kiran Abbavaram's project Rules Ranjann, the anticipation among movie enthusiasts soared to new heights. The inclusion of the stunning Neha Shetty and the charismatic Meher Chahal, along with the participation of renowned comedians, has only added to the film's intrigue. Directed by the talented Rathinam Krishna, this much-anticipated film is set to hit theaters on October 6, 2023. Join us in discovering whether Kiran Abbavaram's portrayal of Rules Ranjan will captivate and charm the hearts of moviegoers, as we eagerly await the verdict.
Rules Ranjann follows the journey of a small-town youngster, Manoranjan (Kiran Abbavaram), who ventures from a place like Tirupathi to Mumbai, determined to make his mark in the city and ultimately win the heart of a special girl, Sana (Neha Shetty), against all odds. Initially, Manoranjan arrives in Mumbai after landing a job at a software company, adopting the persona of Rules Ranjann, intending to teach his colleagues and superiors a lesson in rule-following.
However, as the story unfolds, Manoranjan's life takes an unexpected turn. He finds himself gradually breaking the very rules he once enforced upon his coworkers. The narrative delves into the intriguing reasons behind Manoranjan's departure from his strict principles and how these developments are intertwined with the lives of intriguing characters such as Sana, Swapna (Meher Chahal), film director Kamesh (Vennela Kishore), and his close-knit-group of friends (Viva Harsha, Nellore Sudarshan, Hyper Aadi). As these relationships and events interweave, "Rules Ranjann" promises an engaging and unpredictable storyline that unfolds before the audience's eyes.
Kiran Abbavaram delivered a performance that stayed within the expected boundaries of his role. While he didn't venture into new territory, he made sincere efforts to infuse variety into his portrayal by expressing different emotions, altering his body language, and experimenting with his dialogue delivery. Nevertheless, there's room for growth and the potential for him to make a more profound impact in the future. It's worth noting that the character itself didn't offer many opportunities for a groundbreaking performance, so Kiran's efforts were commendable in this context.
Neha Shetty, although constrained by limited screen time, managed to bring a sensuous and captivating presence, particularly in the songs where she exuded allure, especially in the Sammohanuda song. Her performance in both Western and traditional outfits was engaging and enjoyable. Meher Chahal, too, appeared visually appealing on screen but had a constrained role to work with.
Vennela Kishore assumed the responsibility of providing entertainment in the first half, which primarily featured the Mumbai backdrop. He played his role adequately, incorporating some adult comedy scenes that catalyzed crucial turning points in Kiran Abbavaram's character arc.
In the second half of the film, the entertaining duties shifted to Viva Harsha, Nellore Sudarshan, and Hyper Aadi. These three made valiant efforts to amuse the audience, even though their humor leaned towards the conventional and seemed somewhat outdated, failing to strike a chord with everyone.
While Rules Ranjann boasted a cast with talented actors like Makarand Deshpande, Goparaju Ramana, Abhimanyu Singh, Ajay, and Subbaraju, they regrettably ended up as mere caricatures, not fully utilizing their potential within the narrative.
The story of Rules Ranjann, penned by Rathinam Krishna, regrettably fails to offer anything innovative. From the very outset, it becomes apparent that the film is burdened with clichéd and outmoded story elements, putting Rathinam Krishna on the back foot right from the beginning. Throughout the narrative, the storytelling remains trapped in the confines of predictability.
In the first half, the film attempts to inject humor through scenes that come across as silly and an attempt at entertainment that ultimately falls flat. However, the situation takes a further nosedive in the second half, particularly when the setting shifts from Mumbai to a rural village, making it increasingly challenging to engage the audience.
It almost seems as if TV serials could have provided better entertainment value, sparing viewers the unbearable torture of enduring this on the big screen. Director Karthik Rathinam appears to have struggled to extract the best performances from the cast, but the weak characterizations are to blame rather than the actors themselves. It appears that Karthik Rathinam may not have approached the project with the seriousness it deserved, as not a single scene or dialogue stands out in the entire film.
Amrish's background score fails to leave an impression, and aside from the chartbuster Sammohanuda song, none of the other songs manage to appeal to the audience, leaving Amrish's music effort disappointing. The cinematography by Dulip Kumar falls short of the expected standards and surprisingly doesn't even meet the basic requirements. The editing, while seemingly lackluster, may be excused because there might not have been much to work with in the first place. The dialogues come across as pathetic and ridiculous, and the production values are subpar.
In conclusion, Rules Ranjann disappoints on multiple fronts, with an uninspired storyline, lackluster humor, and technical shortcomings that hinder its overall appeal.
In summary, Rules Ranjann falls into the category of outdated entertainers. Rathinam Krishna's storytelling approach harkens back to the 70s and 80s, and unfortunately, this retro style does not work in the film's favor. Despite the efforts of Kiran Abbavaram's mass appeal and the comedic talents of Vennela Kishore, Viva Harsha, Hyper Aadi, Nellore Sudarshan, and the allure of Neha Shetty and Meher Chahal, the film struggles to stay afloat. The combination of an antiquated storyline and lackluster screenplay and direction ultimately undermines the movie's potential. Rathinam Krishna's script ends up being the film's greatest obstacle. Taking all these factors into account, Cinejosh rates Rules Ranjann with a score of 1 out of 5.