Viswam: Detailed Movie Review
“Viswam” marks the much-anticipated comeback of Sreenu Vaitla, a director known for his hit comedy-action entertainers in Telugu cinema. After a series of setbacks, Vaitla aims to reclaim his space in Tollywood with this film, starring Gopichand and Kavya Thapar in lead roles. The movie blends action, comedy, and romance, but struggles with outdated tropes and a lack of engaging content.
This article provides a detailed analysis of the film’s plot, performances, technical aspects, and final verdict on whether Viswam meets expectations or misses the mark.
Plot Overview
The story kicks off with the murder of a Union Minister (Suman) in Hyderabad. The killers pursue the sole witness to the crime, a young girl, aiming to eliminate her. At this moment, Gopi Reddy (Gopichand) steps in to protect her. However, Gopi’s motives go beyond just rescuing the girl—he also embarks on a mission to find Samaira (Kavya Thapar), a woman he loves.
As the film progresses, secrets about Gopi’s character begin to unravel. His past connections and the reasons behind his involvement with the young girl gradually come to light. The narrative promises suspense, action, and emotional drama, but falls short of delivering a gripping experience due to a predictable plot and uninspired screenplay.
Performances: The Cast’s Contributions
- Gopichand – Known for his solid action-hero persona, Gopichand delivers a competent performance. However, his character offers little novelty, making it a routine affair. He performs well in action sequences and manages to bring some charm to the lighter moments, but the character lacks depth and complexity.
- Kavya Thapar – Thapar plays the typical commercial heroine role. Her screen presence leans heavily on glamour, with little opportunity to showcase substantial acting skills.
- Supporting Cast – Several comedians, including Vennela Kishore, Prudhvi, Naresh, and Sunil, make appearances, but only Prudhvi and Vennela Kishore manage to elicit laughter. Unfortunately, other comic sequences fall flat, adding to the film’s cringe-worthy humor.
- Jisshu Sengupta – Jisshu plays one of the antagonists but fails to leave a lasting impact, given the weak writing around his character.
Technical Aspects: Strengths and Flaws
- Direction and Screenplay
Sreenu Vaitla’s return after a long break raised expectations, especially for fans of his past successes. Unfortunately, the film fails to live up to them. The screenplay feels outdated, relying heavily on clichés and recycled sequences. Attempts to revive his signature comedy-action formula fall short, as the jokes feel out of place and uninspired.Vaitla’s trademark train sequence, which had received considerable hype, ends up being a disappointment. Similarly, the Italy segment drags on without adding meaningful progress to the narrative, weakening the overall pacing. - Music and Background Score
Chaitan Bharadwaj composed the film’s music. While a couple of songs appeal to the mass audience, the background score lacks the energy required to elevate key moments. The sound design fails to complement the film’s action-packed sequences, leaving viewers disconnected from the intended intensity. - Cinematography and Editing
KV Guhan’s cinematography feels routine, offering nothing extraordinary in terms of visuals or composition. The film’s editing by Amar Reddy could have been tighter. Several scenes linger longer than necessary, adding to the runtime and testing the audience’s patience. - Production Values
Despite the involvement of two prominent production houses—Chitralayalam Studios and People Media Factory—the film struggles with execution. While the production values are decent, the film lacks polish in several areas, leaving it with an unfinished and dated feel.
What Works: Highlights of Viswam
- Prudhvi and Vennela Kishore’s Comedy
Though most of the film’s humor falls flat, Prudhvi and Vennela Kishore deliver a few hilarious moments. Their performances stand out in an otherwise unimpressive comic lineup. - Action Sequences
A handful of action scenes feature well-choreographed stunts, showcasing Gopichand’s strengths. The interval fight in particular draws attention, creating a brief moment of excitement.
What Doesn’t Work: Major Pitfalls
- Outdated Storyline
The story feels stale, with predictable plot twists that fail to engage modern audiences. Elements of the narrative, including the romance and comedy, feel like relics from a decade ago. - Routine Screenplay
The screenplay follows a formulaic approach, offering little innovation in terms of storytelling. Attempts to generate humor and drama end up feeling forced and out of sync with contemporary cinema trends. - Lack of Logic and Poor Execution
Several scenes lack logical coherence, further frustrating viewers. Characters behave inconsistently, and the story jumps between subplots without meaningful connections, leaving the audience puzzled. - Cringe-Worthy Comedy
While Sreenu Vaitla’s films usually excel in humor, Viswam’s jokes miss the mark. Instead of the light-hearted fun audiences expect, the film delivers awkward and unfunny moments, making it difficult to sit through.
Analysis: A Failed Attempt at Revival
Sreenu Vaitla tried to revisit his trademark style with Viswam, hoping to recreate the magic of his earlier hits. Unfortunately, he underestimated the evolving tastes of Telugu audiences. What once worked as a foolproof formula now feels irrelevant, highlighting the need for directors to adapt and innovate.
The film’s reliance on predictable plot devices and old-school humor alienates viewers who expect fresh content. Even Gopichand, known for his ability to carry films on his shoulders, cannot salvage this lackluster project. His chemistry with Kavya Thapar remains underwhelming, and the supporting cast contributes little to lift the film.
Final Verdict: Viswam Falls Short of Expectations
Viswam, despite the hype surrounding Sreenu Vaitla’s comeback, turns out to be a major disappointment. With an outdated story, uninspired screenplay, and poorly executed humor, the film fails to engage viewers. Even Gopichand’s performance and the occasional comic relief from Prudhvi and Vennela Kishore cannot save the film from mediocrity.
Rating: 2/5
While Viswam may attract some audiences looking for a light-hearted commercial entertainer, it struggles to leave a lasting impression. For those expecting Vaitla’s signature magic, the film falls far short, making it a tedious watch. Sreenu Vaitla’s attempt to return to his roots ultimately backfires, leaving both fans and critics questioning whether he can reclaim his position in Telugu cinema.
