'Sreekaram', starring Sharwanand in the lead, hit the screens today (March 11). Here is our review of the latest box-office release.

Story:

Karthik (Sharwanand) is a techie who becomes a farmer to fill the shortage of farmers in his village. He comes up with the idea of collective farming, an idea that changes the fate of the poor in the village. But his father (Rao Ramesh) takes his sweet time to trust his wisdom. Then there is an avaricious moneylender (Sai Kumar) who has an eye on the entire cropped area of the village. How Karthik not only saves his village but also becomes an icon forms the crux of the story.

Analysis:

'Sreekaram', directed by debutant Kishor B, has its heart in the right place. The film knows that it has to sell the trope that farmers are becoming extinct, whether or not the claim is grounded in reality. It feels romantic to peddle the idea so that an on-screen character can be made a saviour. And Telugu cinema revels in saviour characters.

Sharwanand delivers a solid performance. After trying a variety of roles, including comedic characters like in 'Mahanubhavudu', the actor makes the best pitch here. In the role of a techie who takes to farming because farming runs in his veins (unlike software engineering), he brings class to the character. Rao Ramesh plays his proud father, who is guileless. The formidable actor is enjoyable throughout, even when he is depressed (which is most of the screen time). Sai Kumar is wow in the role of an antagonist who is a blood-sucking fellow. VK Naresh is another important actor whose heart beats for the dignity of labour.

When it comes to comedy, Satya becomes fodder for some subtle body-shaming. Murli Sharma, Shishir Sharma, Aamani and others make the film all the more watchable.

Mickey J Meyer's music is familiar and lovely. The background music enlivens the proceedings and one can feel the act of growing crops through it. J Yuvaraj's cinematography makes the green fields look better than the gloss of Hi-Tech City, which is exactly what it was meant to be.

The first half positions the film as an extension of the film's trailer. The emotion driving the male lead's decision to quit software and turn to farming is heart-tugging. It all sounds great when he wraps up the film with a compelling question to future software engineers. The second half is equally appealing, with brilliant marketing ideas presented in a believable way.

But the film is not entirely about agriculture. There is a father-son story, which the makers had said is a love story. One feels the pinch when the protagonist-son refuses a proposal by his father, whose vision is myopic. On the other hand, the hero's vision is futuristic, as the climax speech shows.

The love track, involving a disappointed Priyanka Mohan feigning pain, could have been better. But, maybe, it is a metaphor for how urban India will pine for the attention of rural India if the latter takes to collective farming lock, stock and barrel. The songs come with depth, especially 'Balegundi Bala', in which singer Penchal Das brings the charm of the Seema folk music.

'Sreekaram' doesn't think beyond what is necessary. It knows how to etch the right situations, be it in the family or in the fields. That's why it is the movie that was needed during the farmers' protests across the country. As dialogue-writer Sai Madhav Burra's lines go, they are hard-hitting as well as emotional.

Verdict:

'Sreekaram' is a relevant film that blends its central message with cinematic liberties here and there. Good performances and nice situations are touching.

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