Srikanth Review: Rajkummar Rao Revs Up Routine Biopic
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Writers: K K Binojee, Sumit Purohit, Jagdeep Sidhu
Based on the inspirational journey of Srikanth Bolla, who became the first visually impaired international student to study at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and went on to start his own company employing differently-abled individuals, the 2024 Bollywood movie “Srikanth” is driven by Rajkummar Rao’s performance as the titular protagonist.
Two hours and fourteen minutes long, “Srikanth” starts with a celebratory mood in a small village in Andhra Pradesh, where a poor farmer joyously runs to buy alcohol when he hears his wife has delivered a baby boy. However, when he returns home, everyone behaves as if it’s a funeral. The baby is blind, and some suggest that the couple should return the baby to God. Thus, Srikanth’s struggle to find acceptance in society starts the moment he is born, but the bright, intelligent boy surprises all with his zeal for academics. From being thrown out of his school for being honest, to going to court to fight for his right to study, and then navigating the challenges of the adult world of business and profits, the screenplay of “Srikanth” crams a lifetime’s worth of experiences into just over two hours, often ending up rushed and soppy.
Rajkummar Rao’s chameleon-like ability to slip into the visually impaired Srikanth’s shoes with childlike authenticity lights up this otherwise formulaic film. Although it’s hard to buy Rajkummar as a class 9/10 student (which means he is supposed to be 14 or 15 years old), his enthusiasm makes it easier to overlook. Think of it as a play, where a 35-year-old might portray the same character from ages 15 to 35. Jyotika plays Devika, Srikanth’s school teacher, who supports him through his ups and downs and takes it upon herself to educate him when he is thrown out of the special school. Alaya F seems miscast as Swathi, a Hyderabad girl who falls for Srikanth, and the romantic subplot does little to make “Srikanth” more entertaining. Sharad Kelkar, however, is warm and likable as Ravi, Srikanth’s business partner, who actively works with him in running the business.
The creators tackle too many subplots and issues in the movie: Srikanth’s impoverished childhood, the bullying he faces in his village and local school, his stint at a special school, the court case to get himself admitted to the science stream, his desire to play cricket for India, the experience of living and studying in America, his romance with Swathi, the challenge of starting his business, his attempt to dabble in politics, and conflicts with the people in his life. Phew! “Srikanth” should’ve either been a mini-series with streamlined chapters or a film with fewer subplots. In its current form, the script barely explores the complexities of being a visually impaired individual, relying instead on inspirational dialogues to convey most of Srikanth’s struggles.
“Srikanth” is a Rajkummar Rao show all the way, with other actors getting minimal screen time, which is fine since this is about Srikanth’s journey.
You can stream the film on Netflix.
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