 |
Winner
Winner links:
• Sai Dharam Tej interview
• Trailer
• Photos
• Pre-release function
• Wallpapers
Jeevi
rating: 3/5
Punchline: for masses
Genre: Action/Family/Romance
Type: Straight
Banner: Lakshmi Narasimha productions
Runtime: 155 minutes
Censor Certificate: U/A
Release date: 24 February, 2017
Theater watched: Screen 4, Prasads multiplex, Hyderabad
Cast: Sai Dharam Tej, Rakul Preet Singh, Jagapathi Babu, Mukesh Rushi, Thakur Anoop Singh, Anasuya (SA), Master Charith, Vennela Kishore, Pruthvi, Ali, Raghu Karumanchi, Adarsh Balakrishna, Kalyani, Hariteja, Raghubabu etc
Music: Thaman SS
Cinematography: Chota K Naidu
Art: Prakash
Editor: Gautam Raju
Dialogues: Abburi Ravi
Action: Stun Siva & Ravi Varma
Lyrics: Ramajogaiah Sastry, Anantha Sriram, Srimani & Bhaskara Bhatla
Choreography: Raju Sundaram & Sekhar
Story: Veligonda Srinivas
Screenplay & Direction: Gopichand Malineni
Producers: Nallamalupu Srinivas (Bujji) & Tagore Madhu
Winner links: |
Siddhardh Reddy (Sai Dharam Tej) runs away from his father (Jagapathi Babu) due to some misunderstanding when he was a kid. They belong to a family of racers and jockeys. Sitara is an aspiring athlete who practices professional running without the knowledge of her parents. Siddharth falls in love with Sitara at first sight. An unexpected situation challenges Siddharth to win a horse race in order to get back his father and Sitara. Rest of the story is all about how he wins the race to win over the people he loves.
Actors: Sai Dharam Tej is evolving as an actor from film to film. He has done terrific work in all departments (especially in the emotional scene where he cries). His dance steps in Pichodne Aipoya (composed by Raju Sundaram) offers a lot of variety. His looks and styling is good (mainly due to a different hairdo). Rakul Preet Singh is very glamorous and does her part well. Jagapathi Babu is excellent as a father who longs for his son. Vennela Kishore is good as a sidekick of Sai Dharam Tej. Pruthvientertains as Singam Sujatha (watch out for the lion roar bgm). Ali entertains in the second half (though there are a couple of double meaning dialogues). Anchor Anasuya sizzles in an item song. Master Charith (son of actor Sudheer Babu) is impressive as childhood version of hero. We see Mukesh Rushi in a prominent role in a big Telugu film after a long gap. Thakur Anoop Singh does his role well. 
Story - screenplay - direction: The story of the film which is based on father-son sentiment with a backdrop of horse races has got nice commercial elements. But the key scenes (separation of father/son in the beginning and granddad uniting with family at the end) are unconvincing. Director Gopichand Malineni makes sure that there is something for everybody and targets the masses with a strong sentiment story coupled with entertainment orientation. However, the latter part should have been more gripping. Screenplay should have been better in the second half.
Other departments: Cinematography by Chota K Naidu is excellent. Thaman has given peppy and popular music for this movie. Background music is also nice (loved the lion roar for Singam Sujatha character). Dialogues by Abburi Ravi are decent. Stunts are choreographed well. Editing is alright. Art direction is colorful. Producers Bujji & Tagore Madhuave spent extravagantly and it shows on the screen.
Analysis: First half of the film is nice. Second half should have been better. Plus points of the films are primary cast, entertainment and sentiment. On the flipside, the film gives deja vu feeling. Screenplay and climax should have been better. On a whole, Winner is aimed at mass audiences.