PRANAAM | 10 August, 2019

Rudraksh Adventures Pvt. Ltd., Woodside Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. and Reel And Motion Pictures LLP’s Pranaam (A) is a usual story of good versus evil.

Ajay (Rajeev Khandelwal) is studying to be a Collector. It is his father’s (S.M. Zaheer) dream that Ajay becomes a Collector. However, Ajay is sucked into the world of crime because of another student, Gyanu Singh (Abhimanyu Singh), and his elder brother, Ajit (Shaji Chaudhary). While Gyanu is a student leader and a rowdy, brother Ajit is a kind of don.

As the drama progresses, Ajay is accused of murdering Gyanu although the fact is that he was only tying to save himself from being murdered by Gyanu. Obviously, Ajay is on the run. He later kills Ajit too. When, finally, Ajay wants to surrender, his girlfriend, Manjiri (Sameksha Singh), who is now an IAS officer, arrests him.

Sunil Jaiswal’s story is the usual good-versus-bad action drama. Otherwise, the story doesn’t have much to talk about. His screenplay is hackneyed. Sunil Jaiswal’s dialogues are okay.

Rajeev Khandelwal is alright as Ajay. Sameksha Singh is okay in the role of Manjiri. Vikram Gokhale lends able support as college principal Tej Pratap Singh. Atul Kulkarni plays the wily police inspector, Rajpal, with élan. Abhimanyu Singh is effective as Gyanu Singh. Aniruddh Dave has his moments as Ajay’s friend, Arjun. Shaji Chaudhary makes his presence felt as Ajit. Apoorva Arora (as Soha) and S.M. Zaheer (as Ajay’s father) provide decent support.

Sunil Jaiswal’s direction is ordinary. Vishal Mishra’s music is mediocre. Lyrics (Manoj Muntashir) are alright. Jaan Nissar Lone’s background music is functional. Akashdeep Pandey’s camerawork is okay. Action scenes are well-choreographed by Anand Shetty. Amita Shri Narayan Singh’s editing is decent.

On the whole, Pranaam will prove to be too dull a fare to make any mark at the ticket windows.

Released on 9-8-’19 at Inox Metro (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru White Lion Entertainment. Publicity: ordinary. Opening: weak. …….Also released all over. Opening was poor everywhere.