Game Changer Review: Ram Charan and Shankar Deliver a High Stakes Political Drama
Game Changer, directed by Shankar, which happens to be his Telugu debut features veteran actors like. Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, SJ Suryah and others. The movie is visually ambitious and attempts to take a critique of comedic cinema within the realm of Shankar’s core beliefs of commercialism. However, it falls short in emotional grasp of the audience. Despite doing good in the storytelling and high standards it set. it has failed in other aspects.
Game Changer Plot Recap
A principled IAS officer and an angry Ram Nandan (Ram Charan) wants to remove rampant corruption, rampant throughout the streets of Vizag. In stark contrast, a guilt stricken Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Satyamurthy (Srikanth) seeks ways to make amends in the last years of his life. The duo has to fight Mopidevi (SJ Suryah) who and I quote “ is a ruthless power miser who will stop at nothing to get into power.” Measured against the fight between Ram and Mopidevi, the story of Andhra Pradesh feels fairly normal.
Shankar’s Formula Predictability
In disapproving tones, Ram Nandan describes the film as “unpredictable.” It is not so as the overall film appears to fit into a rather traditional and tried and tested formula. As is Shankar’s custom, Game Changer delivers democracy and social change while allowing the hero to win without much effort. However, although it is entertaining, it certainly does not provide a sufficiently strong anchor to be entrenched in Ram’s character. Ram’s character of Appanna, an activist, emerges halfway into the film and starts taking over the story, and become its emotional fulcrum.
Parvathy And Appanna: The Film’s Activists
The film’s most poignant parts are drawn from the peripheral storyline featuring Ram as Appanna, a voiceless man who fights for the right of the minority, and Anjali who breathes life to a Tappeta Gullu artist and husband Parvathy who is an activist herself. They both do an excellent job of acting and Ram is at his best in portraying Appanna. Tirru’s cinematography coupled with Thaman’s background score in these scenes calms things and makes them feel more genuine compared to the rest of the movie.
Shankar’s Visual Delectation
Shankar’s trademark has been spiced, loud song and dance sequences like Dhop and Jaragandi, opulent production values and black and white character profiles, and all that is fully in display. Kiara advani as Deepika, the romantic interest, adds dollops of house and wit but adds nothing to the story, in fact she acts only to motivate the hero. Mopidevi on the other hand is a caricature of an antagonist who has only a single track of pursuit for wealth and lacks any other attributes.
Positive Aspects and Kaput Aspects
It is the high pace that ensures that things move very rapidly and there is hardly ever a dull moment. It also ensures that there is little attention paid to important character relationships and plot points. The narrative of Appanna and Parvathy was interesting, but when it comes to Ram’s journey, it appears to be loosely connected. The animosity between Mopidevi and his brother (Jayaram) also deserves more attention than it has received. With the effort that Shankar has poured in into creating a larger than life story, some parts of it get left out causing the movie to feel inconsistent at times.
Conclusion
Game changer is a feast for the eyes and sounds and serves the purpose of reminding after a long time of the abilities Shankar possess when it comes to storytelling. The movie is not reckless as it does have a fair bit of political drama, alongside the emotional side which is what draws everything together, however it isn’t anything new. Shankar fans and Ram Charan admirers should give Game Changer a go as it does not rewrite the genre but it has some interesting twist to take.
