Pawan Kalyan delivers a solid performance in Ustaad Bhagat Singh, his second collaboration with the director Harish Shankar after her blockbuster Gabbar Singh (2012). While the actor brings his typical energy and charisma, the film struggles with an ordinary first half and a weak villain setup.
Story overview
The narrative begins with Prime Minister Nalla Nagappa's son being kidnapped by Ustaad Bhagat Singh, a man disguised as a police officer. The film then explores the kidnapper's motives, his past with Nagappa and the connection with Chandrasekhar Rao.
Performances that work
Pawan Kalyan stays in his element throughout the entire film. He shows the right amount of energy from start to finish and shines in both comedic and emotional sequences. Although the role is not particularly powerful, he makes an impact and maintains his characteristic charisma.
Sreeleela plays a lively, innocent character and does a commendable job. Raashi Khanna gets limited screen time while KS Ravi Kumar And Parthiban perform well in their crucial roles.
What works and what doesn't
Harish Shankar is known for presenting its heroes in larger-than-life avatars and delivering commercial entertainers. After the success of Gabbar Singh, expectations were naturally high for this reunion. However, Harish Shankar's raises are not given the right attitude to make them possible Pawan Kalyan really shine.
The first half begins quite normally after a decent childhood episode. The introduction of the hero seems routine and the scenes are captivating Raashi Khanna it lacks impact. Several song sequences fail to provide the intended entertainment, and even the Collar Song falls flat.
The pause seems routine, but it portends better things to come. The second half maintains a better flow and begins with a powerful paatha basti episode. The love track in between Sreeleela And Pawan Kalyan is well executed and the song “Ee Manase” effectively reinforces the romantic atmosphere.
Even if nothing groundbreaking happens, the second half maintains a good momentum. A big sequence involving the villain's son works appropriately, and the emotional ending to the backstory has some impact. The idea of linking the villain's goal to a national threat leading to the climax is a good one, but the execution feels ordinary due to the weak portrayal of the antagonist.
Positive
- Pawan Kalyan's Performance
- High scenes in the second half
- Sreeleela – Pawan Kalyan Flashback chemistry
Negatives
- Weak first half
- Underdeveloped villain character
- Stunning songs and background music
- Action sequences could have been better
Final verdict
Harish Shankar manages to present Pawan Kalyan good in Ustaad Bhagat Singh. The film has some heroic episodes that work, particularly the flashback in the second half Sreeleela And Pawan Kalyan. However, the overall impact remains limited due to a subpar first half, a poorly developed villain character and ordinary music. Despite the disappointing work of DSP Pawan Kalyan's The screen presence ensures that the film remains watchable.
