Shivam - Movie Review

What's it about?

While on board of train, an astrologer tells Shiva (Ram), a youngster who leads life just to unite the lovers, that he would meet his dream girl on this journey and also a gang that would follow him. Like the astrologer said, Shiva beats a guy at a station when one of them snatches his cigarette lighter. The guy happens to be son of a rowdy Bhoji Reddy (Vineeth Kumar) and he orders his gang to bring Shiva to his home. While they are after him, he sees a beautiful girl proposing him from far off distance. The girl Tanuja (Rashi Khanna) is actually practicing for a play and Ram mistakes that she is proposing. Knowing this truth, he proposes her. Meanwhile, another rowdy (Abhimanyu Singh) is also in love with Tanuja as he feels that she brings luck in his life. Now, the game revolves around all these guys. What happens next? Why Shiva is uniting all the lovers?

Analysis

Sravanthi Movies, a production house that has produced good movies like Ladies Tailor and Nuvvu Naku Nachavu in the past, has completed 30 glorious years. Producer Ravi Kishore who has good taste in picking up stories has produced this film, Shivam, introducing new director Srinivasa Reddy in his 30th year. Alas, his judgment has gone wrong this time. New director who is credited with story, screenplay, dialogues and direction has come up with a beaten-to-death storyline and told it in even more clichéd manner.

More than the story, the way the movie is told is bad as the movie drags on and on. It is near to 3 hours length and needs to be cut at least by 40 minutes.

Ram has tried to make up of what the movie lacks with his energetic presence and acting. First half of the movie is decent despite nothing much happens. Devi Sri Prasad's music and the way songs are shot in exotic locations also help us sit through.

Second half, silly comedy and outright sloppy climax have killed the movie. New director Srinvias Reddy has failed miserably in all the departments. Among the positive side of the movie are the comedy tracks involving Fish Venkat as well as Ram's love story narration to Jabardasth team.

As said earlier, Ram shines through. He has done his best to save the film. Like always he has shown his energy throughout the film and has danced well. Rashi Khanna though looks glamorous needs to check on her weight. Of whole lot of actors in the movie, Srinivasa Reddy and Fish Venkat make some impression.

The film has good visuals (Rasool), some catchy numbers (Devi Sri Prasad), eye-catching locations, and neat production values. Editing by Madhu is complete mess.

Bottomline: Shivam makes a tedious watch with clichéd story, old narration. Ram and production values are saving grace.