Lakshya Review

'Lakshya' hit the screens today. In this section, we are going to tell you what the film is about.

Story:

Pardhu has to fulfil his grandfather's wish of representing India on the world stage in the sport of archery. But he faces a challenge in the form of Rahul (Shatru), an unscrupulous archer who is determined to subdue Pardhu. The hero faces another hurdle in the path and this hurdle proves to be even bigger. What is it? How does Pardhu finally triumph in the face of unmitigated disasters? That's the crux of the story.

Analysis:

Director Santhossh Jagarlapudi needs appreciation for choosing 'villu vidhya' as the backdrop of his story, especially when most filmmakers have stuck to low-hanging fruits. He kicks aside the cricket bat and games like Kabaddi in favour of a sport where the player's concentration powers are believed to be in Chess territory. But what emerges from such a semi-sports drama is unexciting.

The first half is spent on staging and unpacking the two setbacks that Pardhu encounters. Of the two, one is driven by fate and the other one is because of an evil-minded rascal. There is another plot point that shouldn't be revealed for the sake of not giving away the only spoiler that the trailer didn't foretell.

Naga Shaurya rises to the challenge presented by the archer's character. His 8-pack-abs look was not done in a month or two. It needed him to take sanyas from consuming liquids, including water, for days on end. His acting in the emotional scenes should have been better. Jagapathi Babu and Sachin Khedekar are good, especially the latter doesn't over-emote. The former, who was seen in a layered role in 'Maha Samudram', gets to play a somewhat old-fashioned character.

Ketika Sharma's presence doesn't rev up the romantic track. That said, the heroine gets to have a say even in the crucial portions in the second half. There is a duet titled 'Saya Saya' and composer Kaala Bhairava bores us with it. The BGM is where his talent is appreciable.

What makes the portions of the sport so dull is that they are embellished with stereotypical crests and troughs. Even the climax doesn't quite excite us. Kireeti Damaraju is a miscast. While Shatru has done well, his characterization is run of the mill. Satya and Viva Harsha are routine.

Rami Reddy's cinematography is average. The action sequences don't raise the bar. There is no dynamism in the archery scenes; had there been gravitas in the way they are staged, 'Lakshya' would have been a special experience in fits and starts, at least.

Verdict:

'Lakshya' turns out to be a run-of-the-mill drama where the sports segments are not interesting at all.