 "Srikanth movie review: Rajkummar Rao shines in an awe-inspiring & well-crafted biographical drama")
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Jyotika, Sharad Kelkar, Alaya F
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
In the last few decades, we have come across several biopics from Bollywood, which showed us the inspiring journey of athletes, armed officers, actors and other influential personalities. Amid this, filmmaker Tushar Hiranandani brings the inspiring journey of a visually impaired industrialist Srikanth Bolla, whose life teaches us to never stop dreaming big and if SriCan then even we can.
The journey of the movie starts on July 13, 1992, when Srikanth ( Rajkummar Rao ) is born to Damodar Bolla (Srivinas Beesetty) and Venkatamma Bolla (Anusha Nuthula) at Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh. While Damodar is overwhelmed like every father after the birth of his son and keeps his name after his favourite cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth, he gets devastated when he comes to know that his son has been born blind. Many neighbours and relatives tell Srikanth parents to kill their blind child and pray to god that next time he should give them a healthy child.
In the next frame, we see Damodar crying inconsolably and trying to kill him but his wife stops and requests him to not do that and says they will have one more child but Srikanth should stay with them.
Well, despite being visually impaired, Srikanth is smart, sharp and has great grasping power. In many instances, you will get bowled over his intelligence. After getting educated in his village, he is sent to Asha School for Blind, Hyderabad, where a teacher named Devika (Jyotika) nurtures him and shapes his future.
After passing the 10th standard, he applies for Science but as per the Indian Education System, visually impaired people cannot opt for science. Srikanth along with his teacher Devika fights with the system and gets admission in his favourite stream and passes with flying colours.
After his education, we see him on his entrepreneurial journey, where he faces initial setbacks and people questioning his talent and also sympathise with him because of his disability. However, these situations never break the spirit of Srikanth as he always ‘I can’t see but I have a clear vision of what I want to become’. In fact, his one inspiring line is the biggest takeaway as he says, ‘I can’t run so I must fight’.
The makers have made this biopic with utmost sincerity and honesty. So, not even for a second you will sympathise with him for his disability but you will be super impressed with his skills and sharpness.
After reaching great heights in business he sees a downfall because of his own decisions and his somehow actions symbolise the universal behaviour of every human being, which includes traits like insecurity, jealousy and arrogance.
Director Hiranandani is a master storyteller and the way he has weaved the narrative of this inspiring journey is simply impeccable. The filmmaker has kept the movie pacy with ample heartwarming moments. Special brownie points for Jagdeep Siddhu and Sumit Purohit’s fascinating story.
Talking about star performances, Rajkummar Rao has hit the ball out of the park and delivered an award-winning act. He gets all the nuances perfectly and leaves you in awe with his supreme portrayal. Jyotika is breathtaking as Devika and makes you feel to have a mentor like her in your life. Her portrayal is as important as it was of Aamir Khan in Taare Zameen Par. Sharad Kelkar once again proved his versatility with his portrayal of Ravi (Srikanth’s business partner) in the movie. His aura and screen presence is simply superb. Alaya F lights up the screen with her breezy portrayal as well.
On the whole, Srikanth is a film, which deserves an audience and their attention for its inspiring and spectacular craft.
Rating: 3.5 (out of 5 stars)
Srikanth is releasing on 10th May in cinemas
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