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Shyam Singha Roy (2021)

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The latest Nani starrer, Shyam Singha Roy, directed by Rahul Sankrityan, is a template reincarnation film packaged in an endearing way.

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Language : Telugu.

Director : Rahul Sankrityan.

Writers : Satyadev Janga (original story).

Cast : Nani, Sai Pallavi, Krithi Shetty, Madonna Sebastian, Murali Sharma.

Genre : Drama | Romance | Thriller. 

Imdb: Shyam Singha Roy (2021)

Streaming on Netflix.

The latest Nani starrer, Shyam Singha Roy, directed by Rahul Sankrityan, is a template reincarnation film packaged in an endearing way. Personally, I’m a fan of such genre-films purely due to the ease in which they offer emotional highs to the viewer when written well, and Shyam Singha Roy makes the most of these highs in its narrative, thus delivering a film that’s bound to stay close to us.

The first half of Shyam Singha Roy is a breezy watch with enough comedy and events that gradually sets up the base for a more serious and emotional second half. Similar to other reincarnation-themed films, the heart of SSR lies in its backstory which covers almost 90 percent of the second half, and, Rahul Sankrityan’s effective screenplay, makes it an affecting affair. The way West Bengal and its cultural festivities are explored in the narrative deserves a special mention, as it almost becomes a pivotal component in the latter half. The characters of Shyam Singha Roy and Rosie, played by Nani and Sai Pallavi respectively are well fleshed out and leave a lasting impact on the audience. Two other praiseworthy highlights of SSR are its magnificent cinematography by Sanu John Varghese and the soulful music of Mickey J Meyer. The color tone across the two halves compliments the mood of the story and the way Sanu has shot yesteryear Bengal is spectacular. Mickey J Meyer plays a crucial role in elevating the emotional undertone of the Shyam Singha Roy phase and it’s his poignant and soulful score that attaches the viewers to the Shyam-Rosie romance.

That said, the film has its fair share of negatives. Although it builds up the relationship between Shyam and Rosie quite well, they fail to prolong it once the characters get together. As a result, it’s hard for one to buy the ‘eternal love’ tag given to their relationship. The last 30 minutes of the film gives you a rushed feeling, with some key events not getting enough breathing space, thus failing to provide an impact. One could attribute this to the dependence on montage shots to show a significant phase in Shyam’s life. Although it helps reduce the run time, it disturbs its soul. The courtroom sequences are entertaining but lack intrigue, as issues are sorted out instantly without anyone breaking a sweat.

Performances are top-notch with Nani giving his best in recent times. As Shyam Singha Roy, he is convincing, both as a revolutionary and a romantic. His body language and attitude makes you buy the invincible nature of Shyam. In the Vasu portions, you get to see the humorous side of the actor, and the switch between characters was also neatly done by him. Sai Pallavi is graceful as the vulnerable Rosie. Her plight, unconditional love, and longing for redemption were gracefully portrayed by the actress. And as usual, she dances like a dream. Krithi Shetty and Madonna Sebastian do justice to their roles.

Shyam Singha Roy is eventually a film that talks about eternal love and how it finds you, even after ages. Though cliched, this movie warrants a watch, for its making, performances, and above all. earnestness. Amidst commercial potboilers like Pushpa and Akhanda, Shyam Singha Roy easily stands out and deserves greater acclaim.

Verdict – 5/7 stars.

Excellent.

 
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Ananth Krishnan

Consultant by profession and a hardcore cinephile by heart, Ananth was always into movies right from a very young age and started analysing the nuances. He developed a passion for reviewing films later and idolises Baradwaj Rangan whom he considers a critic god. If not watching and writing about films he likes discussing and debating about films with his friends and close ones. He also loves public speaking, debating and cricket.

You can follow him on Instagram @_ananthkrishnan_.

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