Movie Name: Jithender Reddy
Rating: 2.5/5
Director: Virinchi Varma
Music Director: Gopi Sundar
Producers: Muduganti Ravinder Reddy
Cinematographer: Gnana Shekar V.S.
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Young Telugu hero Rakesh Varre starrer Telugu biographical drama Jithender Reddy released today in theaters. Read our review to know how it fares.
Story:
Set in the 1980s in Jagityala, then part of undivided Karimnagar, Jithender Reddy (Rakesh Varre) has embraced strong RSS values since childhood, values that only deepen during his college years. His commitment to justice and righteousness grows, inspiring him to stand against the injustices inflicted by the Naxalites on the poor. This journey drives him to consider a direct entry into politics. Will Jithender Reddy make it into politics? What challenges lie ahead? And what role do the Naxalites play in his story? These questions shape the movie’s plot.
Plus Points:
The biopic of Jithender Reddy is a sincere attempt, with real events depicted vividly on screen. Rakesh Varre delivers a decent performance as Jithender Reddy, capturing the character’s fight for righteousness and nationalism as he confronts Naxalites oppressing marginalised communities.
The story effectively highlights the challenges that inspire Jithender’s noble qualities, depicting his transformation from a college youth into a nationalist figure. His political aspirations and dedication to instilling hope among the people are well conveyed.
Unlike the common portrayal of comrades as heroes in cinema, this film takes a bold step, showing the darker side of these characters, which deserves appreciation. The hero’s stand against the Naxalites is depicted with impact.
Minus Points:
While Jithender Reddy presents an interesting story, its execution lacks the depth needed to make it truly impactful. Despite a strong emotional core, the film doesn’t fully tap into it. The narrative also restricts the hero to a restrained performance, limiting the potential for fully showcasing his acting abilities.
There are narrative flaws, especially with unnecessary scenes in the first half that struggle to engage the audience. Though the story gains momentum in the second half, the director stumbles in maintaining consistent execution. An attempt to introduce a love story for the hero falls flat, making the heroine’s role feel incomplete. Additionally, more depth could have been given to the hero’s friends.
Although the Naxalite backdrop is well-constructed, the casting could have been more carefully done. Apart from Chhatrapati Shekhar, no other Naxalite character stands out. The climax, despite having action sequences, feels somewhat underwhelming due to a lack of compelling character actions.
Technical Aspects:
Director Virinchi Varma chose a strong story, but some missteps are evident in execution. The screenplay needed more refinement, and the narration could have been tighter. Cinematography impresses, effectively capturing the feel of the 1980s. However, Gopi Sundar’s music doesn’t leave much of an impact; the songs are unmemorable, though the background score is decent. Editing could have been more precise, while the production values are solid. Dubbing is notably weak in several scenes.
Verdict:
On the whole, Jithender Reddy is a sincere attempt that has decent story and performance from the lead actor. But, iit suffers from a lack of a gripping screenplay, making it feel somewhat unfocused. The lengthy scenes, uninspired music, and various other limitations prevent this promising concept from rising above the level of a routine biopic.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team
