Aided by an extremely skilled performance from Rajkummar Rao – despite the actor having to push himself to the limit to come across as a teenager and in his twenties – Srikanth is not your average Bollywood biopic. Overt melodrama is rarely invoked to demonstrate the extent of the visually impaired protagonist's achievements.
Directed by Tushar Hiranandani, who has two well-received biographical works behind him (the sports drama Saand Ki Aankh and the 2003 web series Scam), Srikanth tells the incredible true story of industrialist Srikanth Bolla, who fought his way out of poverty, attended MIT, and returned to India to create a business entity unlike any other.
Srikanth is a classic rags to riches saga that is greatly enriched by the director's refusal to use the standard tropes of the genre. Not only does he keep the storytelling simple and uncluttered, he also ensures that the craftsmanship that went into the project – cinematographer Pratham Mehta and editors Debasmita Mitra and Sanjay Sankla do their work to perfection – captures the essence of the story not overshadowed. .
The congenitally blind hero battles seemingly insurmountable odds, including widespread discrimination, discouraging bullying, and a short-sighted education system that leaves no room for differently-abled people to pursue higher studies in the field of science, even if they achieve the required grades.
Apart from a somewhat shrill opening scene that overdramatizes the circumstances and immediate consequences of the birth of a blind boy in a village in Machilipatnam in then-undivided Andhra Pradesh, Jagdeep Siddhu and Sumit Purohit's screenplay avoids overly sentimental methods.
Even in the crucial courtroom scenes where Srikanth, with teacher Devika (Jy0thika) steadfastly by his side, has to convince a judge, a college director and a skeptical lawyer that he deserves a fair chance, the film finds ways not to undermine his moderate legal position. tonal qualities, even though this is a strong plea for giving equal opportunities to persons with physical abnormalities. Admittedly, on a few occasions one of these focuses on a poignant moment when Srikanth's father digs a hole early in the film, an act he repeats much later in a completely changed context: the film tends to make it obvious lying if you expect him to leave something to the imagination and interpretive capacity of the audience.
Srikanth tells the remarkable story of a young man gifted with exceptional vision and tenacity, but does not shy away from pointing out the delicate moments in Srikanth Bolla's life when he comes dangerously close to having his self-confidence turn into a degree of arrogance and success in streaks of indifference.
These moments of weakness cause friction with the handful of key people in his life, including his girlfriend Swathi (Alaya F), a medical student who contacts him via social media before meeting him in person on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). . ), where Srikanth enrolls as a full scholarship student.
While it paints an endearing portrait of a man whose determination to pursue his own goals and has a plan to help other physically challenged and economically disadvantaged people find a solid footing in life, it also recognizes the chinks in the armor of the man who threatening to push his true benefactors away from him.
Srikanth uses the Qayamat Se Qayamat song Papa kehte hai bada name karega beta hamara aisa kaam karega as a musical chorus, but it focuses less on the hero's father than on a teacher who takes the boy under her wing and teaches him how to fly in the face of adversity.
If teacher Devika is the anchor who gives Srikanth the freedom to dream, investor and friend Ravi (Sharad Kelkar) is the man who believes in the protagonist's aspiration to own and run his own business.
Srikanth is not inclined to say sorry, but he also says thank you in so many words. Of course, he delivers an entire monologue in which he acknowledges his supporters and his own fierce sense of self-worth. The conflicting impulses within him are completely understandable, as he has never had anything easy.
A key passage of the film revolves around the then President of India APJ Abdul Kalam and his 'Lead India' campaign, which inspires Srikanth to redouble his efforts to achieve what his heart desires. However, an encounter with an egotistical politician leaves him disillusioned and teaches him a lesson about the pitfalls of shortcuts.
The ability to 'see' without eyes is the most important element in the Srikanth story. It's what sets him apart. Main sirf sapna hi dekh sakta hoon (I can only see in my dreams) is a line he utters more than once. Dream big, he continues to insist as Ravi tries to rein him in with his reality checks.
But Srikanth is also a man of action. He goes like Main sab kuch kar sakta hoon (I can handle anything). Main kuch bhi kar sakta hoon (I can do anything). The first is a statement of intent; the latter sounds like a warning. The character becomes all the more relatable because of the inner pulls and pressures he encounters as he deals with challenges from within and without.
Rajkummar Rao plays Srikanth from about age 14 (that's how old the Bollant Industries founder was when he first met President Abdul Kalam) to about his mid-20s. It is clearly not easy for the actor to pretend to be a teenager, but he delivers a performance that is so convincing and nuanced in every other respect (the physical limitations, the dialogue, the body language) that one can only marvel. .
The lead actor gets exceptional support from Jyothika and Sharad Kelkar – both are paragons of restraint, matching the drama's persistently balanced timbre.
Srikanth, a film as uplifting as any, deserves a wide audience. It's more than just a story. It's a heartwarming celebration of a way to see the world in a new light.
Form:
Rajkummar Rao, Jyotika, Alaya F, Sharad Kelkar, Jameel Khan
Director:
Tushar Hiranandani