'Romantic', which is produced by Charmme Kaur and Puri Jagannadh on Puri Connects, is out in the theatres. Let's find out what it is all about.
Story
Vasco (Akash Puri) is a budding gangster with no fear for anybody. He lusts after Monica (Ketika Sharma), a singer who is the sibling of a small-time cop. Inspector Ramya Gowarikar (Ramya Krishna), who is an ACP, is on the prowl to nab him. Meanwhile, Vasco's rival Samsung (Makrand Deshpande) is mad at him for ruining his smuggling business. As both Ramya and Samsung try to defeat him, Vasco has to save his skin and also figure out that he is madly in love with Monica.
Performances
After a disaster like 'Mehabooba', Akash Puri was expected to choose a cracker of a script. The choosing part was done by his father, Puri Jagannadh, who is the film's writer. He delivers below-average performance. The punchlines and the star-hero attitude didn't suit him at all. As such, the scenes don't pack a punch.
Ketika Sharma, for a newcomer, is decent enough. She glams up the sensuous songs and saves them from drowning out. Ramya Krishna repeats a few expressions and speaks too loudly. Makrand Deshpande is boring and sometimes acts in a weird fashion. Sunaina goes overboard, while the likes of Devayani and Rama Prabha don't make a mark.
Technical aspects
The songs of 'Romantic' have been designed to play to the gallery. They overplay the 'moham' aspect. Sunil Kashyap carries 'Nuvvu Nenu E Kshanam' and 'Naa Valla Kadhe' to suit the requirements of the story. 'If You Are Mad I Am Your Dad' is another song that works purely for the sensuality and not the chemistry.
Naresh Rana, who has cranked the camera, is imaginative in the scenes where the locations in Goa are a bit stylish. Junaid Siddiqui has helmed the editing department.
Analysis
Although it is debutant director Anil Paduri who has helmed 'Romantic', the film feels like an out-and-out Puri Jagannadh product. There is a mish-mash of everything from 'Pokiri' to a bit of 'Businessman' as well. The characterization of the hero is outdated; it's nonsensical that Puri is repeating the same old tropes that made him famous in the 2000s. Unfortunately, this is 2021.
A lot of what passes for action in the film is just lazy hero-glorification. The hero always has the upper hand, while the villains trail. Ramya Krishna's character is irritating. She doesn't do anything worthwhile to put the gangsters in their place until the climax.
The scenes between the lead pair are a frustratingly boring repetition of more or less the same idea. The beachside romance they have in the form of a conversational song is the only stretch that works. Even the bus song doesn't leave a strong impression because by then the audiences are not invested in their love story.
When the film doesn't hard-sell its wafer-thin love story, it tries to project Akash Puri's character as another Pandu from 'Pokiri'. Since Akash is no Mahesh Babu, the action scenes are pure torture to watch. But for the climax, the entire story is outmoded. Everything feels lazy and rushed.
Closing Remarks
'Romantic' is littered with absolutely silly elements.
