Skanda Review: Ram Pothineni Unleashes Action-Packed Fury in a Spectacle of Revenge and Redemption

Ram Pothineni 's much-anticipated cinematic spectacle, ' Skanda ,' graced the silver screen on September 28th, delivering an electrifying dose of action to eager audiences. The film, which boasts a stellar cast including Sreeleela and Saiee Manjrekar, has been generating substantial buzz in the lead-up to its release.

Directed by the illustrious Boyapati Srinu , 'Skanda - Attacker' unfolds with a political twist. It all begins when the son of the Telangana Chief Minister, played by Sharath Lohitswa, elopes with the daughter of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, portrayed by Ajay Purkar. What was once a friendship between the two Chief Ministers now sours into enmity.

The tension escalates as one Chief Minister taunts the other, proclaiming, 'Na inti gate kadhu, na state toll gate dhatu chudam (Forget crossing the gates of my house, let me see if you can cross the toll gate of my state)'. As viewers ponder which Chief Minister will emerge victorious, a mysterious character known as Seema Bidda , a true son of Rayalaseema, enters the scene and brings both Chief Ministers to their knees. Meanwhile, another character ominously warns that anything or anyone obstructing their path will be pickled and bottled without hesitation.

'Skanda - Attacker' stays true to the signature elements of a Boyapati Srinu film. The action sequences unfold in slow motion, featuring dramatic head-turns, limb-severing encounters, and characters wielded on spears or daggers. The dialogues are rhyming and verbose, making them memorable long after the credits roll. The music, delivered by S. Thaman, is loud and commanding, leaving a lasting impact. However, subtlety is not on the menu, and the film serves as both a test of endurance and an assault on the senses.

The prologue introduces Srikanth as Rudraganti Ramakrishna Raju , an entrepreneur from Rudrarajupuram, sentenced to death for his crimes, while his daughter, portrayed by Sai Manjrekar , fights for her life. As the narrative unfolds, Ram takes on the role of a hypermasculine savior pitted against formidable Chief Ministers with satirical characterizations. Slow-motion shots abound, with one character even likening Ram's speed to that of a tiger, a declaration followed by an astonishing 22 slow-motion sequences.

Ram's character, Rama, exudes strength, effortlessly taming a drug-injected ferocious bull, a feat even surpassing Bhallaldev's ability to control a massive bull in ' Baahubali .' Initially presented as a coarse college student humorously dubbing his classmate (Sreeleela) as 'average,' Rama's character takes an unexpected turn. It's revealed that he was a Stanford University topper skilled in ethical hacking, despite his current life of dubious activities. His motivations, it turns out, stem from his love for family and his father's close friend, Ramakrishna Raju.

'Skanda - Attacker' weaves a tale of revenge and retribution, spanning a lengthy 167 minutes filled with countless slow-motion sequences and rhythmic dialogues. The film sprinkles in international film and literary references, including mentions of Tarzan, the Matrix, and Shakespeare 's iconic phrase, "To be or not to be."

Ram's character is even playfully referred to as a "rolling Rolls Royce." Meanwhile, female characters often find themselves relegated to the role of mere adornments, donning exquisite silk attire and emoting through tears or displays of affection. A group of young women rallies against the hero, but innovation remains conspicuously absent in the film's storytelling, character development, music, and action choreography.

'Skanda' maintains an unrelenting, high-decibel celebration of mass entertainment throughout its runtime, prompting viewers to keep their noise-canceling earphones close at hand. As the film hurtles towards its conclusion, the promise of a sequel looms, leaving audiences both excited and slightly apprehensive about what lies ahead.