145. Shehzada; movie review

 

SHEHZADA

Cert 12A

142 mins

BBFC advice: Contains moderate violence, bloody images

Would I have been as disappointed with Shehzada if I hadn't already seen the Telugu film on which it is based?

Impossible to say but it did mean that there were no open-mouthed, shocked responses.

Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo had grabbed from its start in which an employee of a successful businessman switches their babies to ensure his son has a better life than he can give him.

It is one of the most impactful openings to an Indian film in the past five years. Indeed, it was so unforgettable that I knew what was coming three years later in Shehzada.

This time the poor employee, played by Paresh Rawal proceeds to bring up the industrialist's boy, Bantu, with a sharp tongue and little love while his lad, Raj, is spoiled in palatial surroundings.

The question of the power of nature over nurture or vice-versa is at the heart of Rohit Dhawan's film.

We see how it plays out when the plot moves on 25 years and alights upon the likeable Bantu (Kartik Aaryan) struggling to nail down a job.

Regardless, he keeps trying and manages to impress the recruiter (Kriti Sanon) of a law firm.

Sanon's character is a strange one. Initially, she is played as a hard-nosed businesswoman with a taste in eye-popping short skirts and then, after an awkward romance with our hero, she simply fades away.

Meanwhile, Raj (Ankur Rathee) is grotesquely spoilt and completely naive, driving to his breakfast in a toy car in his mid-20s.

However, the paths of the two cross unexpectedly and that is when Shehzada finds much-needed direction.

It is a vibrant movie with attractive and colourful song and dance numbers and a lead who has a heck of a lot of front.

But it lacks freshness because it is only three years since the release of its original which was grittier and had greater allure.

I guess that most people won't see the film in two languages but I had and I can only record my experience.

Thus, Shehzada fell flat for me.

Reasons to watch: The attractive base story

Reasons to avoid: Nowhere near as good as the original

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 5.5/10

Did you know? Allu Arvind and S Radha Krishna the producers of the original film remade the film for Hindi audience.

The final word. Kartik Aaryan: "For this one. Initially, I was not onboard as a producer for Shehzada. At first, I had taken my fees and remuneration. And then there was a crisis. The film was going through a crisis and they needed somebody to step up. So I asked my producer then I gave up my money. That is how this whole thing, production and me becoming a co-producer came (into being).” Daily Times

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