BOTTOM LINE
Regular Revenge Drama
OUR RATING
2/5
CENSOR
2h 46m, U/A Certified.
What Is the Film About?
Porus (Vishal) is the son of a constable and soon to become a police officer. A mother and sister Dwaraka comprise the family. Porus has anger issues. He can’t stay calm if he sees injustice, especially from people of privileged background.
Neelakantha is a chemical factory owner who dreams of becoming an MLA. He, therefore, suppresses his rowdy urges despite facing a severe protest that is testing his patience. Porus and Neelakantha are in no way connected, but fate has other plans. What makes them come face to face is the movie’s basic plot.
Performances
Vishal is in his zone. The role feels like an extension of his last outing, Enemy (the intelligence part), only in a different backdrop and other family sentiments. There is the anger factor that provides slight variation to act.
Vishal, as usual, is a natural in fights and does it with ease and emotions. The sentiment scenes are also done with complete sincerity. However, in the end, it is just another action drama fare for him and offers nothing new to make it memorable.
Analysis
Thu Pa Saravanan directs Samanyudu. He borrows the basic framework from the classic Malayalam movie Kireedam and weaves a regular revenge drama around it.
The inspiration from old movies is clear from the start, but the effort has been made to change, keeping the current times in mind. The whole track involving the wrong activities of police points towards it. However, it takes a lot of time to come back to that planting in the story.
What happens in the meantime is an extension of Porus’ sister story. It follows a predictable path until the pre-interval and ends on the same routine note. Nothing is surprising on those counts. It is the brief pre-interval block in between that holds the interest.
The narrative cleverly merges three tracks facing a similar issue of trouble from higher powers. The whole thing leads to a scenario where a compromise has to be made. The way the block is cut and presented grabs the viewer’s attention momentarily. The interval that follows is on expected lines, as mentioned previously.
Post the interval; we know where the story is headed. Again, it is in extraordinary predictable terrain. The mourning song adds to the length. Only after the hero starts an investigation the narrative gathers momentum again.
During the middle portion of the second half, a cat and mouse game is created between the hero and villain. The former is on hot trails following all the links, whereas the latter tries to be one step ahead. It is all done well and piques our interest.
But, things start to go awry when there are one too many upper hand moments from one side. It makes the proceedings formulaic. The same continues for the rest of the movie, and then all we have is an inevitable climax involving the grand fight.
In short, only the two blocks, one at the pre-interval mark and the other in the middle of the second half, offer some sequences devoid of routineness. Everything else before and after is on the expected lines.
Overall, Samanyudu is a regular revenge drama with a couple of interest blocks. If you like mass movies and love the genre, those parts, along with a sincere Vishal, might make the film a passable fare. If not, then Samanyudu offers very little to write home about.
Others?
Dimple Hayathi has a few moments in the first half, which portrays her as a strong woman, but there is nothing else to do for her. Raveena Ravi playing the sister role has a routine but better part. Thulasi is wasted playing the inconsequential mom.
Yogi Babu provides the laughs on expected lines. Director turned actor G Marimuthu is apt for the role, but it is also half-baked. He goes missing for a fair duration in the second half and appears only towards the end. It is the same case with the comedian as well. Baburaj playing the villain is alright. It is a typical part, and he plays it menacingly as one would expect. The rest of the cast are okay in small bits and pieces roles.
Music and Other Departments?
Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music is forgettable. However, he makes up for it with his background score. It is suitable for the most part. Kevin Raj’s cinematography feels off from the start. It neither has the nard-hitting realistic vibe nor has the grand mass fare look. NB Srikanth’s editing is alright. The action choreography could have been better in the climax. The writing has some sparks but is below par overall.
Highlights?
Vishal
Pre-Interval
First Half Of Second Half
Drawbacks?
Predictable Story
Typical Revenge Drama
Songs
Length
Alternative Take
Instead of extending the link sequence in the second half, it could have been cut and more story-related content added during the second hour.
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, In Parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, But With Huge Reservations
Saamanyudu Movie Review by Siddartha Toleti
