Srinivasaa Silver Screen and Zee Studios’ Skanda (dubbed from the Telugu film of the same name; UA) is an action fare.
Telangana chief minister Ranjith Reddy’s (Sharath Lohitashwa) son elopes with Andhra Pradesh chief minister Rayudu’s (Ajay Purkar) daughter. This causes a rift in their friendship. Rayudu swears revenge against Ranjith Reddy, but Bhaskar Raju (Ram Pothineni) enters the scene, and the entire plan changes. Bhaskar Raju targets both the chief ministers. Who is Bhaskar Raju? What is his motive? How is entrepreneur Rudrakanti Ramakrishna Raju (Srikanth) related to Bhaskar Raju? It may be mentioned here that Rudrakanti Ramakrishna Raju is sentenced to death for crimes he never committed. His daughter (Saiee Manjrekar) is battling for life.
Bhaskar Raju has a college friend (Sreeleela). Does he love her?
Boyapati Sreenu has written a story which cares neither for logic nor subtlety. The only aim of his screenplay seems to be to accommodate over-the-top action scenes. If the romance is not at all heartwarming, the family sentiments also fail to touch the heart. Comedy falls flat on its face. Dialogues are weak.
Ram Pothineni (as Bhaskar Raju) looks endearing and shines in action and other scenes. Sreeleela is average as far as her acting is concerned. Saiee Manjrekar is alright. Prince Cecil lends fair support. Sharath Lohitashwa (as Ranjith Reddy) and Ajay Purkar (as Rayudu) are quite nice. Daggubati Raja makes his presence felt. Srikanth (as Rudrakanti Ramakrishna Raju) has his moments. Gauthami, Indraja, Prabhakar and Babloo Prithiveeraj are so-so. Urvashi Rautela adds oomph in a song-dance number.
Boyapati Sreenu’s direction is routine. He has made such a loud film that it will actually put off many among the audience. S. Thaman’s music is so-so. His background music is too loud. Lyrics are routine. Song picturisations are okay. Santosh Detake’s camerawork is nice. Stun Shiva’s action and stunt sequences are meant only for the front-benchers. Production designing (by A.S. Prakash) is of a decent standard. Tammiraju’s editing ought to have been crisper. Dubbing is nice.
On the whole, Skanda doesn’t have it in it to appeal to the Hindi film-going audience.
Released on 28-9-’23 at Gem (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay by Zee Studios. Publicity: dull. Opening: ordinary. …….Also released all over.