Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas is making all out efforts to win masses by doing commercial entertainers with acceptable subjects. After Jaya Janaki Nayaka, this time he has come up with a concept-oriented film Saakshyam which deals with the subject of Nature's five elements. Whom this film will appeal to, you will get the answer in actual review part.
Munu Swamy and his three brothers (Jagapathi Babu, Ravi Kishen, Ashutosh Rana and Madhu Guru Swamy) with evil nature are no less than monsters who kill those who question their misconducts and also witnesses. Likewise, they slay down the bighead of Swastik village, Raja (Sarath Kumar) and his family members. Vishwa (Bellamkonda Srinivas), the infant son of Raja is the only one rescued in this massacre. He is adopted by rich man (Jayaprakash). Vishwa unwilling to take over his father’s business empire wishes to design an award-winning video game. He happens to meet a story writer Valmiki (Anantha Sriram) introduced by girlfriend Soundarya Lahari (Pooja Hegde). Vishwa comes to India to convince Soundarya for marriage who misunderstood him. But, many unexpected things happen in India which ultimately define the purpose of his life. Do Vishwa ever know about murders of his family? How Nature's five elements which also form the only evidence of his family killings support him is the rest.
Saakshyam is a story with huge span. Handling a topic called One Cannot Escape Destiny and Nature is the Prime Witness is not an easy one. Sriwass and his team showed lot of sincerity in weaving this story with all commercial ingredients without missing the basic logics and emotional glue. Though screenplay is open and predictable from very first scene, Sriwass yet succeeded to hold the audience interest by designing the crucial four episodes decently. At the same time, adding a cent of spirituality and divinity into a rather socio fantasy line is a job well done. Though execution meandered up and down at many times, the final impact is definitely more than satisfactory. Nevertheless, Sriwass failed at ripening the romance and fun which are keys for commercial film to go up by one scale.
Arthur Wilson’s camera work is too good. May it be Dubai, Kasi or grandly canned songs, visuals were bright all through. Editing by Kotagiri is a hefty task and he has done justice despite jerks here and there. Songs by Harshavardhan Rameshwar are forgettable and RR is impeccable enhancing the impact. Divine chants and holy lines from religious books embedded into lyrics made lots of sense. Sai Madhav Burra’s pen also made major difference to dialogues. He penned few dialogues which look simple at hearing but had an ocean of depth in meaning. Production standards from Abhishek Nama are idea for a project of this magnitude.
Onto artists, Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas showed more maturity in shouldering a character which is observed passive when Pancha Boothalu is called active in driving the narrative forward. Except the poorly written love track, Sai is comfortable in action and emotional portions. Every time, when he appears on screen…he bought conviction and believability. That’s an achievement of sorts. Pooja Hegde is lean and pale. Her glamour never impressed both in romance and songs. Jagapathi Babu is into his basics and Muni Swamy is a cake walk. His brothers Ravi Kishen, Ashutosh Rana and Madhu Guru Swamy did their part. Jayaprakash and Pavitra Lokesh are good as Sai’s rich parents. Sarath Kumar, Meena are so brief. Vennela Kishore, Raghu Babu are wasted. Surya, Hema, Rao Ramesh, Brahmaji, Jhansi, Sameer, Kasi Vishwanath and others are a part of rich casting. Lyricist Anant Sriram’s Valmiki character is a value and logical addition to whole storyline.
Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas
Story
Camera
Music
Action
First Half Mid Portions
Screenplay
Romance
Comedy
Songs
From last few films, Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas is excelling as an artist keeping the actual commercial results aside. This time, Sai appeared like a matured youngster in this new concept driven storyline. Sriwass too changed gear from regular stories by differentiating himself on a new voyage of Pancha Bhoothalu… that are Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Sky. Defining a commercial revenge script encircling these five basic elements had something new offer.
Saakshyam kicks off on a superb note establishing the goodness of Sarath Kumar, Meena and family on one side along with Jagapathi Babu, his brothers agonizing villainy on other side. Using the Divinity of Cow in Hindusim for this part of bloodshed and massacre in a fiction village Swastik laid a strong foundation for rest of action to derive. Fast forward by 20 years, Vishwa’s entry is stylish and the introduction song kept first 20 minutes a good drive. Entry of Pooja Hegde dried up the flow. Love track despite Vennela Kishore’s side kick presence failed to deliver any entertainment. On the other side, Anant Sriram’s entry and description of Swastik video game is thrilling. Back in India, court room episode of Rao Ramesh and ghastly child labor episodes are shot meaningfully. Songs come as speed breakers. Sai, Kishore’s flying to India and wooing Pooja looked very weak. Pulling the strings together, pre interval block of Ashish Vidyarthi’s killing as Level 1 of game using Wind Turbine leaves the rest of three Bhoothalu to hold the second half interest.
Second half begins on poor note with Sai, Pooja romance or family, fun and drama did not accelerate the proceedings. Level 2 and Level 3 played on Ashutosh Rana and Madhu Guru Swamy in Varanasi, Mining backdrops does the trick. Both these action scenes succeeded to pull the excitement back. Onto Level 4, there is more attentiveness with Anant Sriram and Swastika village flash back into connection. The way Saakshyam’s starting portions laid the seeds for climax to connect solidly made climax unyielding. With Jagapathi Babu’s killing, Saakshyam comes to an end but Bellamkonda Sai or his adopted parents unaware of whole flashback served the purpose in summing up Sriwass’s honesty at theme.
Saakshyam is not a simple movie to script on. It has got enormous depth on concept and Sriwass team including Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas did their part of job. After Jaya Janaki Nayaka, definitely there are chances for masses to embrace this commercial masala blended in spiritual and divine constituents. Cinejosh rates Saakshyam with 3 stars and awaits for Box Office to speak the rest.