The trailer of Anurag Singh’s Kesari is every bit that patriotic juggernaut that we expected it to be. It is passionate and bombastic, brimming over with nationalistic indignation as Akshay Kumar, plays a wizened but lionhearted Sardar Ishar Singh who along with 21 Sikh soldiers defeated an Afghan battalion of 10,000 soldiers.
This is a tale of wide-angled valour. And I really can’t see anyone except Akshay carrying it off. There is a certain element of trendy gravitas about his personality which contemporises history (this one is set in 1897) without trivializing it in any way.
And Akshay can nail the jingoistic rhetorics like no one else cab. His bloodcurdling war cry at the end of the trailer is so inspiring it prompted me to mutter ‘Jai Hind’.
Akshay instills a pliable passion into the rhetorics, as his character runs ferociously to annihilate the powerful invaders.
This is a film that wears its heart on the sleeve. Director Anurag Singh has once made a film about a suspected Khalistani terrorist on the run in Punjab 1984. With Kesari he penetrates the big-time with a war cry. And who better to voice it than Akshay Kumar?
The trailer doesn’t have much to give of any other actor. I do hope the the supporting cast which includes a makeup-less Parineeti Chopra trying to look like a Sardarni married to the bravest soldier on that side of 1947, is used properly. What we see in the trailer are CG-induced war sequences. These could have been done better considering the film has four affluent producers, including Akshay Kumar himself and Karan Johar. They were probably cutting down on costs considering Manikarnika got away with such clumsy battle scenes (including shots of Kangana Ranaut as Jhani Ki Rani riding wooden horse).
Kesari looks and feels authentic. Standing at the centre of this sanguinary world Akshay Kumar lords over the proceedings like a wounded lion. March 23 is the release date for this recreation of a chunk of India’s freedom movement that many filmmakers have been trying to put together for years. But none succeeded.
Akshay Kumar was destined to play Havildar Ishar Singh. He told me this is the toughest role of his career. Not only did he carry a heavy turban and thick lengthy beard, he also had to play man who wouldn’t stop at anything to protect his nation.
This is the mood that the country is now experiencing.
Kesari echoes the public sentiment. Don’t stop at anything to crush the enemy. In one sequence an Afghan enemy threatens to subjugate India and its people.
Akshay stares at the big-talking enemy and says, “Chal joothe”, as though someone had just told him that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is not only beautiful, she can also act. A little bit of humour never hurt the national pride.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=JFP24D15_XM
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Lenin Review: Strong Lead, Weak Film
Akhil Akkineni returns with Lenin, a rural action drama directed by Murali Kishor Abburu of Vinaro Bhagyamu Vishnu Katha fame. The project arrived with considerable expectations, thanks to the collaboration between Manam Entertainment LLP and Sithara Entertainments. Nagarjuna’s statement that he was creatively involved in the film more than any of his projects since Manam further raised curiosity among audiences.
Story
The film unfolds in Bharathamma Mitta, a village in Chittoor district that carries a mysterious legend linked to the Mahabharata. The villagers believe that if blood is spilled on their sacred land, the entire region will suffer a severe drought. Against this fascinating mythological backdrop, the story follows Lenin, a fearless young man whose life is intertwined with love, family, friendship, loyalty and betrayal, eventually forcing him to confront challenges that threaten everything he values.
Performances
Akhil Akkineni surprises with a mature and convincing performance that easily ranks among the finest of his career. Shedding his stylish urban image, he embraces the role of a village youngster with confidence. His body language, dialect and emotional expressions feel far more natural than in his previous outings. The actor particularly excels during emotionally demanding scenes, carrying the film whenever the screenplay begins to lose momentum.
Bhagyashri Borse makes an impressive debut in the narrative with her charming screen presence. Unfortunately, her role gradually fades into the background due to weak characterization, preventing her from making a stronger impact.
Pramod Panju delivers a dependable performance, while Eshwari Rao and Shivaji provide solid support with emotionally effective scenes in the latter half. Despite featuring experienced actors like Brahmaji, Ramki and Sunil, the screenplay offers them little to contribute, resulting in largely forgettable appearances.
Direction and Technical Departments
Murali Kishor Abburu deserves appreciation for choosing an unusual premise rooted in folklore. The mythology surrounding Bharathamma Mitta provides an excellent foundation for an emotionally charged rural thriller. However, the screenplay rarely explores the idea with enough depth or originality. Instead, it follows a familiar commercial formula filled with predictable situations and underdeveloped conflicts.
Thaman’s music is underwhelming. Except for “Vareva,” none of the songs create a lasting impression, and several arrive at inappropriate moments, interrupting the narrative flow. His background score, however, is exceptional and significantly elevates many emotional confrontations and action sequences.
Leon Britto’s cinematography is visually appealing, capturing the rustic landscapes beautifully and adding authenticity to the village setting. The editing feels inconsistent in several portions, with abrupt scene transitions suggesting that the film underwent noticeable trimming. Production values remain rich and polished throughout, reflecting the scale maintained by the producers.
Strengths
- Akhil Akkineni’s sincere and mature performance
- Interesting village mythology
- Strong background score by Thaman
- Effective interval and climax sequences
- Better-paced second half
Weaknesses
- Slow and uneventful first half
- Routine screenplay
- Weak emotional payoff
- Poorly developed supporting characters
- Songs that disrupt the pacing
Final Analysis
Lenin begins on an intriguing note by introducing the mystery of Bharathamma Mitta through an effective opening and a compelling voice-over by NTR. The initial setup creates genuine curiosity, making viewers expect an emotionally gripping rural drama.
Unfortunately, once the flashback begins, the narrative slips into a predictable pattern. The screenplay spends too much time on familiar commercial elements while neglecting character development. As a result, the emotional stakes never feel as powerful as intended. Several important characters appear throughout the story, but very few receive meaningful arcs that justify their actions.
The film improves considerably after the interval. A series of twists and revelations add momentum, and the conflict becomes more engaging. Although the twists are not particularly surprising, they manage to keep the audience invested until the climax.
The emotional impact during the final stretch largely succeeds because of Akhil’s committed performance and Thaman’s rousing background score rather than the strength of the writing itself. The climax is neatly staged and leaves the audience with a better impression than the rest of the film.
Ultimately, Lenin succeeds as a showcase for Akhil Akkineni’s evolution as a performer. He demonstrates greater confidence, emotional depth and screen presence than ever before. However, the film itself remains an average outing, held back by formulaic storytelling, inconsistent writing and characters that deserved much stronger development.
Bottom Line: Akhil emerges as the biggest winner of Lenin, but the film’s conventional screenplay and lack of emotional depth prevent it from becoming the memorable rural drama it aspired to be.
