'Game Changer' Movie Review
Cast: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, SJ Surya, Jayaram, Srikanth, Sunil, Samudrakhani, Naveen Chandra, Vennela Kishore and others
Music: Thaman
Cinematography: Thiru
Story: Karthik Subbaraj
Written: Saimadhav Burra
Producer: Dil Raju
Screenplay-Director: S Shankar
Fans of Tamil cinema’s legendary director S. Shankar have eagerly awaited his Tollywood debut, and the moment has finally arrived. Shankar has made his mark in Telugu cinema with the highly anticipated Game Changer. Following the global success of RRR, this film marks Ram Charan’s return as a solo lead, further elevating expectations. With the film hitting screens today, all eyes are on Game Changer to see if it lives up to the immense buzz and delivers on its promise to captivate audiences.
Story:
Ram Nandan (Ram Charan), a newly appointed Collector in Visakhapatnam, previously served as an IPS officer. During his college days, he fell in love with Deepika (Kiara Advani), who reciprocated his feelings but distanced herself from him for an undisclosed reason. Years later, as a Collector, Ram reconnects with Deepika, rekindling their relationship.
Meanwhile, Ram’s efforts to curb illegal activities in Visakhapatnam draw the ire of Minister Mopidevi (S.J. Surya), a mafia kingpin. This sparks a fierce conflict between the two. In a twist of events, Ram accidentally touches Mopidevi during a heated encounter, leading to his suspension.
Simultaneously, the sudden death of Chief Minister Bobbili Satyamurthy (Srikanth) shakes the political landscape, giving Mopidevi a chance to seize power. However, a shocking decision made by Satyamurthy before his death propels Ram into the role of Chief Minister.
The story unfolds as Ram navigates his unexpected rise to power, uncovering the reasons behind Satyamurthy’s decision, his connection to Ram, and the challenges Ram faces in fulfilling his newfound responsibilities. These revelations form the crux of Game Changer.
Analysis:
The first teaser of Game Changer showcased Ram Charan in a variety of avatars, delivering the impactful "unpredictable" dialogue, hinting at a narrative full of surprises. It seemed like Shankar was gearing up to deliver an unpredictable cinematic experience. However, once seated in the theater, the promised unpredictability never truly materializes. Time drags on as the story unfolds with routine characters and clichéd sequences. Despite waiting for Shankar's signature twists, the film concludes with the credit roll stating "A Shankar Film," leaving a sense of unfulfilled expectations. The story, penned by Karthik Subbaraj, lacks the originality associated with him, and even Shankar's trademark treatment feels diluted. While Ram Charan's portrayal of Appanna offers fleeting brilliance, the film overall comes across as an average commercial entertainer, with only sporadic moments of impact.
At the Game Changer pre-release event, Shankar mentioned adapting to the "era of reels" by presenting impactful stories within a short timeframe. However, the attempt to align with this trend appears to have undermined the film’s strength. The narrative feels rushed, missing the depth and sharpness Shankar is known for. His films typically carry strong emotional cores and memorable social commentary, but Game Changer falters in delivering either. The story and scenes, while reflective of contemporary politics, lack the finesse and originality that once defined Shankar’s storytelling.
The most engaging part of Game Changer is the flashback involving Appanna's character, a leader striving to conduct politics without financial corruption. This segment is compelling, elevated by Ram Charan's excellent performance and Shankar’s brief return to form. However, this powerful episode ends on a routine note, pulling the film back into mediocrity. The love story between Charan and Kiara Advani stands out as one of the weakest in Shankar’s filmography, burdened with outdated tropes like the hero’s anger issues affecting the heroine—a concept we've seen for decades. Several episodes feel derivative, lacking the originality expected from Shankar’s vision.
Game Changer ultimately feels like a standard mass entertainer, with an uninspired love story in the middle and fleeting moments of excitement. The film picks up slightly with the pivotal turn in the story but loses momentum soon after the flashback. The much-anticipated hero-villain face-off falls flat, lacking the intensity one would expect. By the time the film reaches its conclusion, it feels like an overstretched narrative. The closing monologue on modern politics, delivered by Ram Charan, comes off as a lecture rather than being seamlessly integrated into the story. This approach deviates from Shankar’s hallmark style of embedding impactful messages into the narrative, leaving audiences questioning whether Game Changer truly marks Shankar’s return to form.
Performances:
Ram Charan delivers a commendable performance, particularly in the role of Appanna, which stands out as the most compelling aspect of the film. Playing a disabled character with layered nuances, Charan brings depth to this short yet impactful role, showcasing his dedication and skill. His portrayal as a college student and later as a civil servant is satisfactory, but these roles don’t offer anything novel in terms of his performance.
Kiara Advani adds a touch of glamour, her beauty accentuated in the song sequences. However, her character lacks depth and fails to leave a lasting impression. Anjali, on the other hand, reaffirms her reputation as a talented actress, making a strong impact even with limited screen time.
SJ Suryah, as the antagonist, gives a spirited performance, but the character itself lacks the complexity and intensity one would expect from a villain in a Shankar film. Srikanth impresses as Satyamurthy, a character with shades of negativity, while Samuthirakani shines in a supporting role, adding credibility to his part.
The comedic attempts fall flat, with Sunil’s character failing to evoke laughter and Vennela Kishore’s role feeling underutilized. Jayaram, known for his dignified portrayals, seems miscast in a comedic role that doesn’t land effectively. Similarly, Naveen Chandra struggles with a role that feels out of place for him, adding to the uneven performances in the ensemble cast.
Technicians:
The technical team behind Game Changer has put in a commendable effort, but unfortunately, they fall short of the high benchmark set by Shankar in his earlier films. Thaman's music offers some highlights, with "Jaragandi" and the flashback song standing out. However, while the background score is decent, it lacks the impact needed for a film of this scale. The much-discussed "Jaragandi" song fails to impress visually despite its high production cost, as the choreography and cinematography don’t do justice to the extravagant set design. The "Dhop" song fares better, but the absence of the fan-favorite "Naanaa Hyraanaa" from the theatrical release is surprising and disappointing.
Thiru’s cinematography captures the grandeur of the film well but doesn’t offer any groundbreaking visuals to leave the audience in awe. The production values are undeniably strong, giving the film a polished and rich appearance. However, Karthik Subbaraj’s story lacks the innovative touch that audiences expect from a Shankar-directed project. The narrative twist in the flashback episode is engaging, but the overall writing feels underwhelming. Sai Madhav Burra’s dialogues, too, fail to pack a punch, coming across as routine.
As for Shankar, while Game Changer could be seen as a step forward compared to his work in Indian 2, it ultimately doesn’t meet the sky-high expectations associated with his name. The blend of top-tier entertainment and powerful social commentary that defines Shankar’s films is missing here. Both in terms of writing and execution, this film falls short of rekindling the magic of the iconic filmmaker's earlier works.
Verdict: Game Changer: A visually grand but predictable entertainer
Rating- 2.25/5