BOTTOM LINE
It’s Sad-Ism
OUR RATING
2.25/5
CENSOR
‘U/A’Certified, 2 hrs 12 mins.
What is the film about?
The film is basically about Journalism. It shows what a journalist can do if he decides to be fearless. How Kalyan Ram befriends a mafia don using his love for Karim Bidi and simultaneously makes his daughter fall for him after multiple harassing situations and using them both gets to the root of black money heaven. What happens to them all at the end is what the film is all about. Ism Movie Review
Performance by Kalyan Ram?
First of all Kalyan Ram must be appreciating for going for a makeover. He changes not only his look but also alters his body language fitting the mannerisms of Puri Jagannadh. While all this is appreciable one must remember not all changes are good. Kalyan Ram never looks at ease with the “new” body language, his performance on screen comes across as trying way too hard. Also, they appear to lose momentum from time to time in terms of energy. Even the much talked about climax is no great shakes performance wise. Puri’s pen saves the effort.
Direction By Puri Jagannadh?
As always Puri Jagannadh comes up with a “fresh idea”. His inspirations are fresh and they do possess content which could constitute a very good engaging film. Unfortunately, and this too like always, Ism isn’t that film.
The film starts off on a very serious note but soon it turns into a stalker and harassment show where a guy at one point literally ties the knot to the girl. He simply says he will tie the knot if he meets her third time. This is just a sample of the kind of romance we get with the heroine. On the other hand, you have Karim Bidi friendship between hero and main antagonist. Things go on in the first half with these wonderful and innovative plotlines till interval where thankfully the real content of the film is revealed.
One starts to get involved in the movie proceedings post interval looking forward to the basic concept. But soon we are dragged into the love story. It is literally forced into the narrative. Things move in a very disjointed manner till the pre-climax arrives. All eyes are on the court scene and it follows the predictable pattern. This is saved luckily by Puri’s pen as mentioned previously. Overall Ism is a film with a good concept but a very poor execution and screenplay.
Aditi Arya and other artist’s performance?
Just like Puri’s typical hero characterization, Aditi Arya plays a Puri’s typical heroine. A bimbo who initially hates hero but finally falls in love in such a deep manner that she is ready to go any extent to get it. This characterization gives scope for lots of dramatization but it needs to be done by an able actress with good screen presence. Aditi lacks on both counts and she appears overacting all the way. Jagapati Babu just sleeps walks in the film with stylish get-up and locales to stay in. Posani Krishna Murali is fine. Tanikella Bharani is wasted. Gollapudi Maruthi Rao has a scene but it fails to create an impact.
Music and other departments?
Music by Anup Rubens is passable. Two songs are good audio wise and they could have been picturized way better than they are now. Cinematography is fine. Editing is good in parts. Dialogues have no impact, barring the courtroom sequence.
Highlights?
Short Run Time
Kalyan Ram’s Effort
Interval and Court Scene
Drawbacks?
Lackluster Screenplay
Zero Engagement with Proceedings
Alternative Take
The film as it is had a decent narrative flow only it needed to be fleshed out neatly removing all the logical holes. Automatically we would have had a better film in hands.
Did I enjoy it?
Very few parts
Will you recommend it?
No.
Ism Movie Review by Siddhartha Toleti
