Released last week in Thane, Maharashtra and Gujarat, Pranav Cinehouse (OPC) Pvt. Ltd.’s Shyam Balram (UA) is the reimagination of Krishna and Balram’s story in Kalyug.
A fantasy adventure, the story is about two divine brothers from Mahabharat, viz. Krishna alias Shyam and Balram, being born in the modern world. They must once again confront their ruthless uncle, Kans.
Sunil Kanade’s reimagining of the Mahabharat story is not exciting or even engaging. His screenplay is very dull and, therefore, unable to involve the audience. Sunil Kanade’s dialogues are weak.
Purvi Mahajan is ordinary as Krish. Abol Kanade does an average job as Balram. Falguni Nanda is so-so as Revati. Ganesh Yadav acts ably as Bracket uncle. Vijay Patkar lends dull support as Ramdutt. Sneha Ullal is okay. Others pass muster.
Sunil Kanade’s direction is terribly weak. Music (Pt. Yashwant Deo, Ashok Patki, Yug Bhusal and Sahil Patil) is functional. Lyrics (Pt. Yashwant Deo, Sane Guruji, Kusumagraj and Sunil Kanade) are okay. Jyoti Salian’s song picturisations are ordinary. Sunny Subramanian’s background music is dull. Raaja Phadatare’s camerawork is fair. Action and stunt scenes, choreographed by Moses Fernandes, are okay. Prasad Rahane’s art direction is below the mark. Paresh Manjrekar’s editing leaves something to be desired.
On the whole, Shyam Balram is a disastrous fare.