An Eye-Opener : My quick take on movie “Srikanth” (Theatrical Release)
Who would have thought a movie about a visually impaired industrialist would be this riveting? "Srikanth" is indeed a revelation, especially for those who had no idea about Srikanth Bolla’s extraordinary journey. Kudos to the filmmakers for tracing his path from a child in Machalipattanam to a successful MIT graduate and industrialist. Bravo, team!
The story of a blind child, whom society wanted to discard at birth, surviving purely because of his mother’s determination, and later graduating from MIT, is nothing short of a fairytale. The director, Tushar Hiranandani, renowned for his hard-hitting biographies like "Scam 1992" and "Saand Ki Aankh," has once again knocked it out of the park.
Rajkummar Rao, portraying Srikant Bolla, delivers an impressive performance, as always. Jyotika, playing his mentor and teacher, and Sharad Kelkar, as his business partner, also bring commendable performances to the table. Interestingly, the character Srikanth is named after the swashbuckling opening batsman Krishnamachari Srikkanth. Like the maverick cricketer, this Srikant, played by Rajkummar Rao, hits balls out of the stadium with ease.
The underlying message of the film, "The blind don’t need your sympathy; they need equal opportunity," is delivered adeptly by Hiranandani, who skillfully steers clear of turning this into a melodramatic tearjerker. The screenplay isn't afraid to show how success can breed arrogance and corrupt Srikant's behavior, adding a layer of complexity to the character.
The challenge with a good autobiography is balancing the source material with creative storytelling to avoid it feeling like a Wikipedia page. Unfortunately, "Srikant" struggles here. The first half, showcasing Srikant's formative years, is engaging and impressive. However, the latter half becomes sluggish and disjointed, lacking the same momentum.
Overall, "Srikant" is a great watch for its inspirational story, stellar performances, and uplifting message. Maybe, just maybe, after Naseeruddin Shah's National Award-winning performance in "Sparsh," Rajkummar Rao’s portrayal of Srikant has the potential to become the next blind character to bag a National Award.
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