Agnyaathavasi Movie Review
Fans expect fireworks when Pawan Kalyan and Trivikram team up. Even the trade expected the film to be nothing short of a blockbuster. While everyone blindly believed that nothing can wrong with this combination, Trivikram had other plans. He has delivered the weakest film of his career and Agnyaathavasi should now bank upon Pawan’s craze and the festive season to stay afloat.
Story :
A business tycoon Govinda Bhargav (Boman Irani) is killed and his son in exile, Abhishikth Bhargav (Pawan) comes to know who is behind it. He enters his office as an employee and executes his plan to unfold the secret. AB finds the real culprit behind the crime but before he avenges his father’s death, he has to prove to the world that he is the true heir of Vinda.
Performances:
Pawan Kalyan is in his elements. He did his best to keep the spirits alive and in fact he has gone overboard at times as there is literally no content in many scenes. Also he is not at his best in terms of looks and fitness. He looked jaded and old in many frames. The energy is clearly missing. Keerthy Suresh and Anu Emanuel had nothing to do except for going gaga over the hero’s character for no apparent reason. Kushboo looks dignified as Pawan’s stepmother but her character is underdeveloped like many other characters in the film. Rao Ramesh and Murali Sharma added a bit of humor to the proceedings as Sharma-Varma. Boman Irani’s talent is criminally wasted. Aadhi Pinisetty makes an impression with his stylish looks. Tanikella Bharani got one of the meaty roles compared to many other noted actors.
Technicalities:
Trivikram is known for using the abilities of a superstar and delivering a complete commercial package that entertains all sections of audience. He is the director who pulled Pawan Kalyan out of the flop stream with Jalsa. Later he delivered an industry hit with Attarintiki Daredi. No wonder fans and trade expected a sensation from him with Agnyaathavasi. But all Trivikram managed to deliver is a disaster of sorts. He faltered in every department. Except for a couple of dialogues nothing bears Trivikram’s mark.
Music by Anirudh is good. A couple of songs are mellifluous and the background score is very impressive. Manikandan’s work is the major highlight of the film. Production values are topnotch. Every frame is rich and the production designers should be lauded for their exceptional work with the sets.
Thumbs Up:
- Pawan Kalyan’s presence
- Cinematography
Thumbs Down:
- Story and Screenplay
- Terrible mix of comedy and action
- Second half is a total let down
Analysis:
It is pretty evident that Trivikram tried to make something in the lines of Attarintiki Daredi. Agnyaathavasi screenplay follows similar pattern but it is not a family drama like Attarintiki Daredi. The film’s basic plot is borrowed from French action thriller Largo Winch where the son is after the villains who had killed his father. A plot like Largo Winch demands a racy screenplay with lots of action and thrills.
Trivikram tried to give his brand of humorous treatment to Largo Winch’s plot and it turned out to be a terrible idea. Initial setup looks promising but the film loses fizzle in no time. Screenplay takes a nosedive immediately after the protagonist takes the humorous route. The scene from the protagonist entering the office as a regular employee to his connection with the heroines, everything seems farcical and looks like the director is desperately trying to make the comedy work.
Even the characters of Kushboo and Aadhi Pinisetty are underdeveloped that Trivikram couldn’t create strong emotional impact or hero elevation scenes. Sadly Trivikram couldn’t give one good whistle-worthy moment or shot for Powerstar’s fans. Pawan resorted to feminine body language and antics to make the comedy work and that has gone overboard after some time. One would keep wondering if this awful writing is really from the master writer Trivikram’s table.
First half of the film goes on a very passive note and things get spicier during the interval part. We expect the film to take action route post interval but Trivikram continues to irritate with forced office humor that doesn’t click at all. Whole second half seems like it is an extension of Ahalya episode from Attarintiki Daredi. There are a couple of twists here and there but none could really deliver the punch that is much needed for such a massive film.
Everything about the film is half baked. Not a single scene seems like there is some thought behind it. Pawan Kalyan has delivered some very big disappointments, but Trivikram making such a poor film will come as a shocker to many. With so many crores at stake, Agnyaathavasi will need to hold at least until the festive season is over. But the film neither has the content nor the charm to stay alive. The combination craze and festival season should help it to some extent, but on a whole it is a massive dud from the superstar duo.
Verdict: Trivikram’s talent in Exile!
