BOTTOM LINE
Stale and boring
OUR RATING
2/5
CENSOR
‘U’ Certified, 2 hrs 05 mins
What Is the Film Paper Boy About?
Dharani (Riya Suman), a rich girl, falls in love with a paperboy Ravi (Santosh Sobhan). Did their love overcome the obstacles and what happens, in the end, is what the movie is all about?
How Is Santosh Shoban’s Performance?
Santosh Sobhan has a likeable screen presence onscreen. He plays a different role in his second outing compared to his first and also looks a bit matured. There are no challenging scenes or acting moments in the movie that stand out. The interval scene required Santosh Sobhan to showcase the dramatic range and he was flat there. Another more emotional situation comes in the second half where he was decent. It’s an okay outing in general but there is nothing memorable or standout thing here.
Direction by Jaya Shankarr?
Director Jaya Shankarr has a wafer-thin and outdated plot in his hand. But he has done a decent job compared to few outings recently.
The writing by Sampath Nandi and relatable cast and execution is the reason there is some interest generated in what is easily a very dated plot. The screenplay is weak and it is the disengaging part of the enterprise. Most of the film is predictable, barring the pre-climax and climax.
The first half is weaker in the sense it shows nothing new and whatever happens is routine and slow paced. One is bored at the interval mark because of nothing new taking shape.
The second half too starts on the same note, but the narrative is tweaked at the predictable points. The parent’s decision and brothers angle etc take an opposite turn. The final scene of the brothers in the hero’s house is a perfect example of giving a fresh spin to predictability. It has come out well despite being on expected lines. The climax is neatly conceived linking with the opening and closing of few arcs.
All that is excluding the songs and comedy track that only add to the length without necessarily adding any emotion or giving fun.
Overall, Paperboy coming from Sampath Nandi is another predictable and routine story bearing all his trademarks even though he only produces it. There is an attempt to do something novel in the outdated zone. The writing is decent and the emotions genuine but the novel factor or the difference from routine is not visible barring few moments here and there until the pre-climax. It is too late by then and only lasts for a few minutes.
Riya Suman and Others?
Riya Suman and Tanya Hope are two heroines in the movie. The former has a meatier role and does well in her part. The latter is okay in a role that is also important to the narrative. The friends batch are okay. The actors playing the brothers are good
Music and Other Departments?
Bheems music in on predictable lines. He does a better job with the background score. The cinematography is neat for a low budget production. The editing could have been better.
Highlights?
Pre-climax
Parts of the second half
Casting
Writing
Drawbacks?
Outdated story
Predictable screenplay
Slow pace narration
Alternative Take
Like other movies of Sampath Nandi, a Tamil style freshening up of outdated tropes could make them far more engaging.
Did I Enjoy It?
Very few parts
Will You Recommend It?
No
Paper Boy Review by Siddartha Toleti
