'Bro' Movie Review
Director Samuthirakani's Telugu film 'Bro', penned by Trivikram Srinivas, falls flat, except for the sporadically enjoyable banter shared between the uncle-nephew duo Pawan Kalyan and Sai Dharam Tej.
In the much-anticipated Telugu film 'Bro,' featuring the iconic duo of Pawan Kalyan and Sai Dharam Tej, director Samuthirakani, along with the screenplay and dialogues by Trivikram Srinivas, attempts to recreate the success of their past hits. However, the film falls short of expectations, lacking fresh and captivating moments. Despite a well-intentioned story, 'Bro' struggles to keep the audience engaged and feels more like a tiresome soap opera.
The central theme of the movie revolves around the universal truth that no one is irreplaceable, and life moves on regardless of our presence. It could have served as a compelling fable with lessons in humility. The film names the main character as Markandeyulu (Sai Dharam Tej), often referred to as Mark by his colleagues. He believes he is presenting his best self to his family and colleagues and knows what's best for everyone. His constant refrain is, "I have no time."
The film initially tries to infuse some fun by cleverly referencing Pawan Kalyan's star power and using iconic elements from his blockbusters. However, these attempts lack originality and fail to leave a lasting impact. The reliance on nostalgia through old songs and dialogues feels more like fan service than innovative storytelling.
Although there are intermittent foot-tapping moments from familiar songs, the film's original compositions and dialogues lack the desired flair. Even the comic sequences featuring Pawan Kalyan and Brahmanandam don't reach the comedic heights seen in their previous collaborations.
The first half of the movie focuses on Mark reassessing his perceptions of people both at home and work. Unfortunately, the subplots involving his siblings and office politics feel predictable and don't offer many surprises. Despite the presence of talented actors like Priya Prakash Varrier, Raja Chembolu, Tanikella Bharani, Ketika Sharma, and Vennela Kishore, their roles are relatively underutilized.
One standout performance comes from Rohini, whose character starts as a stereotypical screen mother but later delivers a pleasant surprise. The final segment, where Mark reevaluates life and has a heartfelt conversation with Titan (played by Pawan Kalyan), holds more substance compared to the rest of the film.
In essence, 'Bro' fails to bring out the best in both Pawan Kalyan and Sai Dharam Tej, leaving them to navigate through mediocre emotional beats. The film's visual effects also disappoint, adding to the overall lackluster experience.
Compared to the Tamil original 'Vinodhaya Sitham,' which centered around a middle-aged character, the Telugu adaptation attempts to cater to Pawan Kalyan's fan base by tweaking certain aspects for a younger protagonist. However, this decision seems half-hearted, and the film ultimately wastes its potential due to lazy writing and execution.
In summary, 'Bro' might have drawn attention with its star power, but it fails to deliver a captivating cinematic experience. The occasional banter between Pawan Kalyan and Sai Dharam Tej is not enough to save the film from being a drab affair
