'Brahmastra: Part One- Shiva', dubbed from Hindi, hit the screens today. Here is our review of the latest box office release.

Story:

As the film kicks off, we are told the Astraverse is at the core of its drama and conflict. Megastar Chiranjeevi's voice-over introduces us to the back story of how Astras came to land on Earth, with Brahmastra being the most powerful one. After it was trifurcated, the Astra has been lying dormant on the Earth. A set of evil forces, led by an unseen power named Dev, want to get hold of various Astras, including the Brahmastra. But if they get hold of it, it will end the world.

DJ Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor) is leading a humble life in Mumbai. In Varanasi, he falls in love with Isha (Alia Bhatt), who is taken aback upon learning that Shiva has got some special powers within him. Junoon (Mouni Roy), meanwhile, is after a set of characters serving the divine to get hold of Brahmastra. Her next target is a professor (Akkineni Nagarjuna). This sets off a series of events involving the Shiva-Isha duo as well as Amitabh Bachchan's Guru, who is the leader of the Brahmansh, a secret society of sages who harness the Brahm-Shakti.

Analysis:

Elements such as fire, water, wind, and earth define the attributes of the different Astras. This theme is used well to make the premise click. But the story, when elaborated, doesn't strike the right chord.

Right from the start, this film was touted to be one that epitomizes grandeur and vision. The fact that it has been conceived as a trilogy (the second part is going to be about Dev, a complex character in the story) made the project all the more sexy. But the film, much to our disappointment, doesn't become greater than the sum of its parts.

By no means is the attempt provoking. The action choreography is not novel or rousing. There is nothing audacious about how the scenes play out, especially in the clumsy second half.

The love story between Shiva and Isha is a theme the film sustains and fortifies till the end. But there is nothing rewarding about how it is staged. Right from the start, the track is somewhat cliched. Does the hero have to be a kind-hearted orphan for an affluent girl to get attracted to him?

Given the epic scale of the story, the film shouldn't have seemed familiar at any cost. The inspired flavour of the premise doesn't quite translate into a phenomenal narration. In recent times, we have seen 'Karthikeya 2' possess greater emotional weight by the virtue of how Kaala Bhairava's background music and the hero's character were shaped. 'Brahmastra' suffers from generic background music.

While watching a lot of American superhero movies, we throw logic to the winds. 'Brahmastra', too, demands the same. But there are moments where we have to stretch the credibility to the maximum. Take the case of the possessor of Nandi Astra. He is attempted to be mowed down with a lorry. How can someone who possesses the physical strength of 1000 Nandis be attacked as if it's an action scene in a Boyapati Srinu film? Only the VFX makes the difference here. Conceptually, the scene is laughable.

Art directors Arta Tozzi and Lora Venkova do an able job for the most part. Cinematographer Sudeep Chaterjee is adequate. Music director Pritam gives one good song. Mouni Roy's performance doesn't impress. The Ranbir-Alia duo is good, while Amitabh Bachchan and Nagarjuna are adept. Shah Rukh Khan's cameo is okayish.

Verdict:

'Brahmastra' is a barely average attempt.