Unveiling ‘Srikanth’: A Biopic That Struggles with Melodramatic Moments.

Title: “SRIKANTH: A Biopic Balancing Triumph and Tragedy”

Synopsis: Imagine a bustling street at night, where a man navigates his way through the chaos. A close call with a speeding car leads to a snarky remark, “Are you blind, dude?” Ironically, this man is, in fact, visually impaired. Let’s rewind to an earlier scene, where we meet Srikanth Bolla as an infant, cradled in his father’s arms. “I am Srikanth Bolla,” Rajkummar Rao’s voiceover introduces us to the protagonist, “the apple of my father’s eye, despite my lack of eyesight.” Fast forward to a courtroom, where Srikanth fights for the right to pursue the Science stream in Higher Secondary education. With a powerful dialogue about the blind nature of the law, he aims to open everyone’s eyes. Review: While emphasizing the importance of not defining Srikanth solely by his disability, the film, unfortunately, relies heavily on wordplay related to sight. Scenes are meticulously crafted to evoke either triumph or pathos, often resorting to obvious puns and metaphors. The narrative follows a predictable trajectory of “Srikanth came, Srikanth saw (no pun intended), Srikanth conquered.” Despite its shortcomings, the film attempts to strike a delicate balance between celebrating Srikanth’s achievements and highlighting the challenges he faces.

Title: “Srikanth: A Remarkable Journey of Triumph and Redemption”

Synopsis: Imagine a captivating tale that unfolds on the silver screen, directed by the talented Tushar Hiranandani (‘Scam 2003: The Telgi Story’). “Srikanth” is a heartfelt biopic that pays tribute to the extraordinary life of Srikanth Bolla. The film takes us on a rollercoaster ride as we witness Srikanth’s inspiring journey from being the first visually-impaired international student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to becoming the visionary founder of Bollant Industries, a pioneering recycled packaging paper company. Along the way, he garners support from renowned figures like former president APJ Abdul Kalam and the esteemed Ratan Tata. It’s a story brimming with potential, yet the filmmakers opt for a more conventional approach, peppered with moments that aim to elicit applause and cheers. Review: One aspect that stands out is the film’s straightforward narrative structure, which unfolds in a linear fashion. We learn that Srikanth’s father, despite initial reservations, supports his son wholeheartedly instead of burying his dreams when he discovers his visual impairment. As Srikanth grows up, his exceptional intellect shines through. He effortlessly solves complex equations, submits his exam papers ahead of everyone else, and even outsmarts sighted opponents in chess matches. However, when he is denied the opportunity to pursue the Science stream in Higher Secondary, Srikanth decides to take legal action against the Indian education system. The courtroom scene that follows is nothing short of riveting, rivaling the intensity of the iconic film ‘Damini’ (1993). Srikanth emerges victorious, not only securing his place in the Indian blind cricket team but also making the difficult decision to forgo his dream of wearing the blue jersey in order to pursue his greater aspiration of studying at MIT. Along the way, he finds love, returns to India, attracts investors, and establishes Bollant Industries. Yet, as success starts to consume him, Srikanth realizes the errors of his ways and embarks on a journey of self-redemption, ultimately finding his way back home.