'A1 Express' hit the screens this Friday. Here is our review of the sports-based drama.
Story:
Rao Ramesh (Rao Ramesh), a corrupted Minister, is determined to hand over a hockey playground to an avaricious corporate house in return for a cut. For the coach (played by Murli Sharma) and his passionate hockey players, the ground is all that they have. Their attempts to save the ground fall apart.
As luck would have it, Sanju (Sundeep Kishan) offers a ray of hope. Who is Sanju? What is his past? How does he save the playground from being gobbled up by the powerful men? Answers to these questions are found from the point of the interval.
Analysis:
Writer-director Dennis Jeevan's association with Sundeep Kishan results in a fruitful film that is about the love of sports, the grit of a national hero, the place of friendship in the life of the protagonist, and a hockey match on which the lives of the good side depend.
For his 25th movie, Sundeep Kishan has chosen an inspirational film that makes its point without diluting the impact. To be sure, 'A1 Express' doesn't ram through the hockey portions right from the start. It takes its sweet time and we are introduced to a different Sanju. Lavanya plays a hockey player for whom studies are a strict no-no. How Sanju capitalizes on her dullness in studies makes for an entertaining watch.
As the film moves forward, we are introduced to the web of deceit in the world of sports. Raghu Babu plays the director of a sports federation and while he is compromised, he is not a cardboard character. He is helpless in the face of the powers-that-be. Rao Ramesh is an artist of mettle and this film proves it again. Comedian Sudarshan, who plays his sidekick, matches him. Watch him make a quick reference to Pawan Kalyan's 'Jalsa' and it's hilarious. The Sports Minister threatens to pulverize the spirit of the sportsmen, but there comes a point when the good side subverts him.
The last act is about a hockey match that is a question of survival for the hero's side. It's a well-made segment that is enriched by emotions. Sundeep looks the part and it seems the hockey training he took for the role went a long way in making the scenes look authentic. Cinematographer Kavin Raj's lens elevates the Stadium portions. And any description of the match would be incomplete without a hat-tip to Hiphop Tamizha's excellent BGM.
Sundeep Kishan's performance is ably supported by the many well-etched scenes. He shows gusto. Lavanya Tripathi, who has played a wide variety of roles in her career spanning nearly a decade, is genuine in the role of a sportsperson. She looks beautiful in the intro song while exuding an air of confidence. Priyadarshi makes a thorough impact in a heart-breaking scene, while Rahul Ramakrishna has a respectable role. Dayananda Reddy's character is typical.
Verdict:
'A1 Express' is right on the money. It's a well-made, content-driven sports drama that is ardent. Watch it for the nice performances, able technical output, and emotional value.
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