Rangabali Movie Review: Lacks the ‘Show’manship Required
Director Pawan Basamsetti’s debut film Rangabali falls short of expectations. Despite its attempt to be a masala potboiler with a story of a young man seeking change, the film leaves viewers wanting more. The lukewarm film offers occasional humor but fails to make a lasting impression.
The protagonist, Shaurya (played by Naga Shaurya), is a self-centered and attention-seeking youngster from Rajavaram. Known as Show in his town, he thrives on the attention he receives. However, he harbors a peculiar habit that the film tries to connect to a larger narrative. Whenever he passes by the Rangabali Centre, he inexplicably loses his balance. Unfortunately, this storyline becomes nonsensical when we learn that he refuses to fight without wearing a white shirt.
When Shaurya disappoints his father (Goparaju Ramana), he is sent to Visakhapatnam in hopes of transforming into a responsible individual who will eventually take over the family pharmacy. While there, he falls in love with a medical student named Sahaja (Yukti Thareja). Although her father (Murli Sharma) approves of their relationship, he carries a painful past associated with Rajavaram that he cannot let go of. Shaurya promises to return to the town once he has brought about change, but this proves to be more challenging than expected.
The film features Shine Tom Chacko as MLA Parasuram and Rajkumar Kasireddy and Satya as Shaurya’s childhood friends. Noel Sean also makes an appearance as a random foe, although his character is not further developed. Among this cast, only Satya manages to shine, primarily due to his comic timing rather than the writing. Rangabali is filled with numerous scenes and fleeting characters, making it a chaotic viewing experience. The film fails to focus on crucial themes such as the town’s underlying violence, opting instead for unnecessary elements like special numbers, duets, cliché slow-motion shots, and abrupt fight scenes.
Naga Shaurya delivers a sincere performance as Shaurya, but his appearance stands out more than his acting abilities. Rajkumar, Murli, and Subhalekha Sudhakar find themselves in roles that don’t offer much depth, while Yukti’s portrayal comes across as amateurish. The film would have been a complete failure if not for Satya, and even the talented Sapthagiri and Brahmaji feel underutilized. The writing and direction by Pawan, editing by Karthika Srinivas, and music by Pawan CH leave much to be desired. However, Divakar and Vamsi’s cinematography work well in capturing the visuals.
In the end, it is disappointing that Rangabali fails to fulfill its potential. The film lacks the charisma and impact necessary to leave a lasting impression. It fails to effectively address serious themes and instead treats them as opportunities for mass entertainment. Rangabali could have been improved by delving deeper into the town’s underlying violence instead of briefly mentioning it in a lackluster flashback. The excessive focus on unnecessary elements detracts from the overall viewing experience.
Overall, Rangabali lacks the necessary showmanship and falls short of expectations. While it offers occasional comedic moments, it fails to leave a lasting impression as either a masala entertainer or a compelling story about personal growth.
