sekhar movie review rating

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

A retired police officer with adept investigative skills, accidentally gets involved in a crime case after his ex-wife's unexpected demise. A retired police officer with adept investigative skills, accidentally gets involved in a crime case after his ex-wife's unexpected demise. A retired police officer with adept investigative skills, accidentally gets involved in a crime case after his ex-wife's unexpected demise.

• Jeevitha Rajashekhar
• Shivani Rajashekar
• Muskaan Khubchandani
• 3 User reviews

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

User reviews 3

• myakalasanthosh
• May 24, 2022
• May 20, 2022 (India)
• Pegasus Cinecorp
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 11 minutes

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed

• Movie Schedules
• OTT and TV News

Most Viewed Articles

• Review : Geethanjali Malli Vachindi – Routine horror comedy drama
• Review : Love Guru – Entertains partly
• Review : Akshay Kumar’s Bade Miyan Chote Miyan – Action Clicks, Content Doesn’t
• Review : Sriranga Neethulu – Just for a few laughs
• Unexpected: SS Rajamouli teams up with cricketer David Warner
• Telugu version of Premalu arrives on this OTT platform
• Official: Vijay’s The Greatest of All Time locks its release date
• Review : DeAr – Interesting concept, Underwhelming execution

Recent Posts

• Chiranjeevi heaps praise on Teja Sajja’s film journey at SIFF
• తేజ సజ్జ నా ప్రయాణం లో భాగం – మెగాస్టార్ చిరంజీవి
• కేరళ లో సెన్సేషనల్ రికార్డు క్రియేట్ చేసిన ‘ది గోట్ లైఫ్’
• The Goat Life crosses a significant landmark in Kerala
• Photos : Amazing Raashi Khanna
• Latest Photos : Mrunal Thakur

Release Date : May 20, 2022

123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5

Starring: Dr.Rajashekar, Athmeeya Rajan, Muskaan Kubchandhani, Shivani Rajashekar, Abhinav Gomatam, Kannada Kishore, Sameer, Bharani, Ravi Varma, Shravan Raghavendra

Director: Jeevitha Rajashekar

Producers: Beeram Sudhakara Reddy, Shivani Rajashekar, Shivathmika Rajashekar, Boggaram Venkata Srinivas.

Music Director: Anup Rubens

Cinematography : Mallikarjun Naragani

Rajasekhar has pinned a lot of hopes on his latest film Shekar. The film directed by Jeevitha has been released today. Let’s see how it is.

Shekar(Rajasekhar) voluntarily retires from his job as a cop but helps the department in their key investigations. One fine day, his ex-wife passes away suddenly. Shekar has his own doubts and starts the investigation. Shockingly, he finds out that his daughter’s(Shivani) death is also connected to his wife. Who is behind this? And how will Shekar solve the mystery? That forms the rest of the story.

Plus Points:

Angry star, Rajasekhar goes for a makeover and does a mature role this time. He as the aged cop looks good and deftly handles the body language and dialogue delivery. The senior hero is good in all the emotional scenes of the film.

Heroine Shivani has a cameo as the hero’s daughter and makes her presence felt. Abhinav Gomatam, Sameer and other supporting cast do well in their roles. The inner turmoil that the character of Shekhar faces has been showcased well.

The second half is where the actual drama starts and the investigation scenes are good and are showcased in detail. The climax and the way the hero’s character is ended look quite good. Prakash Raj was neat in the court scene.

Minus Points:

One of the biggest minus points is the thrill that is needed for a suspense drama is missing in key areas. Thrillers have a great pace but in Shekar, it is slow. Though there is nothing wrong with the proceedings, the screenplay is dull and does not make the audience sit on the edge of their seats.

As the subject had good scope for drama, the director Jeevitha should have created more twists and situations to confuse the audience. But the film runs on a single thread and this looks simple to the viewer.

Also, the first half is started on a good note but the love story of Rajashekhar and back-to-back songs deviate from the film. Had the makers narrated the film to the point with an engaging drama, the output would have been even better.

Technical Aspects:

Music by Anup Rubens is quite good and his BGM was also impactful. Production values of the film are top-notch and the able camera work only enhances the proceedings. Dialogues and production design are neat. Editing is just about okay and the first half needs trimming a bit.

Coming to the director Jeevitha she has done a passable job with this Malayalam remake of Joseph. While she neatly sets the film in Araku and also extracted good performances, her screenplay is not that engaging. She narrates the film in a detailed manner without any deviation but the needed masala for a thriller with twists and turns is missing a bit.

On the whole, Shekar is an emotional thriller that has a decent premise and able performances. The storyline is good but the needed thrills and slow pace are slightly missing. If you ignore these factors, Shekar ends up a passable watch this weekend.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

Articles that might interest you:

• Oh My Kadavule director gives clarity regarding his film with Simbu
• Leading Hollywood studio to join Ramayana’s production
• OTT platform locked for DeAr
• No update yet on The Family Star’s Hindi and Malayalam versions
• Dismal opening for Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’s dubbed versions
• Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2 – Nelson considering this crazy title for the sequel

Ad : Teluguruchi - Learn.. Cook.. Enjoy the Tasty food

• తెలుగు

'Shekar' Review: Engaging But Not Exciting

Title: Shekar Rating: 2.5/5 Cast: Rajasekhar, Muskan, Shivani Rajasekhar, Atmeeya Rajan, Kishore, Sameer, Bharani Shankar, Abhinav Gomatham, Prakash Raj etc Story: Shahi Kabir Camera: Mallikarjun Music: Anup Rubens Producer: Venkata Srinivas and Shivani Rajasekhar Direction: Jeevitha Rajasekhar Released On: 20 May 2022

After a long time Rajasekhar has come up with this film showing off his realistic look. This is the remake of Malayalam film "Joseph" that pulled critical acclaim when it was released in 2018.

Let us discuss how it worked in Telugu with this remake.

Story: Shekar (Rajasekhar) is a retired cop who has sharp investigation skills. He lives all alone. He got separated from his wife (Atmeeya Rajan). He also loses his daughter (Shivani) and lives with her memories and illusions. He keeps on drinking day and night.

The reason for this grief has a connection to his past where he loves a girl Kaveri (Muskaan) but fails to marry her.

What is the role of that girl in Shekar's life? And what's the root cause for all the misery in the story forms the crux in the climax.

Artistes' Performance: Rajasekhar impresses us with his character that is perfectly in sync with his age. The dubbing given by Sai Kumar shows us the vintage Rajasekhar. 

Muskaan, the George Reddy actress put on some weight but made a good pair with Rajasekhar.

Atmeeya Rajan did the same role that she did in the Malayalam original.

Shivani Rajasekhar played a guest role, appearing in some glimpses.

Prakash Raj comes in a scene in the climax.

Sameer looked very fat and unhealthy and the rest of the characters are just ok.

Technical Expertise: Every shot and frame are taken from the original and so no big effort can be observed. The background score given by Anup Rubens is good and the signature music for Rajasekhar's intro scenes is captivating.

The production values are reasonable and up to the requirement. Camera work is commendable and editing is upto the original.

Highlights: Rajasekhar's subtle performance Sai Kumar's dubbing Plot point Crime angle

Drawbacks: Overdose of sentiment Predictability

Analysis: Generally Malayalam films are popular for their gripping narratives, unique plot points and engaging screenplay. But sometimes they too make some films with loose ends and average intelligence in screenplay writing. They may engage in the first instance but not always.

'Joseph' was the 2018 film that garnered good reviews and later in the OTT revolution in the last two years it reached many audiences crossing the boundaries. 

The film runs in cinematic format with a tinge of being realistic. The songs, too much of sentiment, tragic end to all female characters are forced and they hardly help the overall content at the end. 

The realistic touch with the sacrificial protagonist is something unique at the end but until then many twists and turns sound beaten for the audience who watched the films like Drishyam.

Cracking a case with mobile numbers is understood with Dishyam and so something that goes on similar lines wouldn't make any impact in the thrill factor.

The story ends up in a realistic way without doing poetic justice at the end. The darkweb of the medical field is exposed and alerts the system.

If the audience steps into watch this film without carrying any expectations, it may prove engaging though not exciting. But for those who binge watch the films on OTTs, the crime point gets revealed in the middle, killing the surprise factor at the end.

But the decision of the protagonist to put an end to the culprits in the climax is something unique and unpredictable. All said and done, it's a sincere remake but lacks the required punch in the original writing itself.

Bottom Line: Unique Climax

For exciting updates on national affairs and up-to-date news click here on India Brains

• Geethanjali Malli Vachindi Review: No Scares, Little Laughs
• Manjummel Boys Review: Riveting Survival Thriller
• The Family Star Review: Star Doesn't Twinkle

Tags: Shekar Shekar Review Shekar Movie Review Shekar Telugu Movie Review Shekar Rating Shekar Movie Rating

ADVERTISEMENT

Shekar Movie Review: An engrossing thriller

Rating: ( 3 / 5).

Jeevitha Rajasekhar's latest directorial Shekar is a compelling investigative thriller that throws light on the life of a retired police constable, who is going through emotional turmoil. An official remake of the Malayalam crime thriller Joseph (2018), Jeevitha stays mostly faithful to the blueprint of the original film aside from making it tight and crisp in the second hour.

Cast: Dr Rajasekhar, Shivani Rajasekhar, Athmiya Rajan, Muskaan Khubchandani Director: Jeevitha Rajasekhar

Shekar ( Dr Rajasekhar ) is a man of restrained emotions and is popular in his department for his adept investigative skills. Shekhar and three of his friends lead an undisciplined retired life and the group does not miss an opportunity to use their expertise when there's a suspicious case in the town. He is still the go-to guy for his superiors and he doesn't hesitate to help them crack unsolved murder cases. After tracing the culprit behind a twin murder case, Shekar returns to his home only to be haunted by the memories of his ex-wife Indu (Athmiya Rajan) and daughter Geetha (Shivani Rajasekhar). He couldn't give up on the happiest memories and the cheerful life he spent with his loved ones and we get to see the many layers and sublayers of his life as the back story begins to unfold.

Deftly switching between the twin tragedies and the mastery in personal crime scene investigation, Shekar slowly draws you into the suspense at the heart of its plot. The story doesn’t veer off into comedy tracks and romances either — at least not too much. Most of the twists are smartly revealed, and Shekar builds on the little unexpected things. With mobile tower tracking, Benzidine test (for detection of bloodstains), call dumping, data matching, creating a plan, and providing a picture of events serving as key plot points, you get the sense of being consistently invested in the outcome of the investigation.

The screenplay unravels skillfully but also quite sluggishly, especially in the first half which ends in a fantastic twist. The second hour picks up the pace with interesting plot twists and detailing what is the mission and who Shekar’s target is. Jeevitha deserves applause for constructing Shekar ’s world to perfection —  be it his present life with his friends, his love story in the past, and his strained relationship with his wife. She has also handled the relationship between Shekar and Mallikharjun (Kishore), his ex-wife’s husband, in a mature way. But I am unable to understand why Mallikharjun from the very first scene has immense respect for Shekar and perhaps, some detailing into their acquaintance would have made things a bit more interesting. The songs too sync well with the narrative and perfectly complement the flashback sequences. Araku Valley makes for an evocative setting, and Jeevitha Rajasekhar relies heavily on scenic beauty.

Then there are those plot holes like the ease with which Shekar goes in and out of people’s homes at will. The director failed to bring the nail-biting suspense that will keep the viewers enthralled from start to finish. As with many films in the genre, we’re required to take a giant leap of faith when faced with the facts of the crimes. The climax coated with an underlying message seems stretched and underwhelming.

What helps Shekar is its brilliant cast of actors, each never trying to dominate the other, but performing committed to their characters. Dr Rajasekhar brings to the table what only he can as the anguished father, emotional husband and abandoned lover, who hid his feelings under his tired eyes. He is fantastic in the character, conveying angst, guilt and enthusiasm in everything from his body language to his dialogues. Sameer, Bharani and Abhinav Gomatam are reliably solid as Shekar's friends. Athmiya Rajan makes an impression, while Muskaan Khubchandani, who appears in the flashback, portrays heart-rendering emotions with ease. In fact, it is these characters that provide the emotional wallop to the story. Shivani Rajasekhar, although billed as a special appearance, delivers a subtle act. Kishore is alright.

Anup Rubens's background score is the soul of the film, while Mallikarjuna Naragani's cinematography is eye-catching as in the original.

Overall, Shekar is an engrossing thriller that benefits from efficient direction and an inherently riveting plot (originally written by Shahi Kabir). The film seldom loses its grip or your attention and stays engaging when it focuses on its core plot.

Related Stories

We've detected your location as Mumbai . Do you want to switch?

Accurate city detection helps us serve more contextual content

• You are in (Delhi) Change City
• ETimes Home
• Web Series Trailers
• Movie Reviews
• Movie Listings

Visual Stories

• Did You Know?
• Bigg Boss 17
• Relationships
• Health & Fitness
• Soul Search
• Home & Garden
• Women's Day Special

Entertainment

• Music Awards
• Bhubaneshwar
• humburgerIcon humburgerIcon humburgerIcon

• Cast & Crew
• Movie Review
• Users' Reviews

Rajasekhar shines in the film as an alcoholic, troubled, ex-cop.

Shekar Movie Review: A remake that doesn't disappoint

• Times of India

Shekar - Official Trailer

Shekar | Song - Love Gante (Lyrical)

Shekar | Song Promo - Love Gante

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Get reviews of the latest theatrical releases every week, right in your inbox every Friday.

Thanks for subscribing.

Please Click Here to subscribe other newsletters that may interest you, and you'll always find stories you want to read in your inbox.

Vijay 383 days ago

Didn't see the Movie but want to watch Raja Sekhar's Performance!

Subhabrata Saha 631 days ago

A good story destroyed by the producer and director. Horrible direction. Actors are totally helpless. Music also not so good. Should not be watched.

Guest 646 days ago

Reyansh 666 days ago.

Manoj 64903 671 days ago

Not a good movie, we did not like it.

Old Bollywood pairs we want to see onscreen again

​In pics: Vidya Pradeep’s stunning looks in ethnic wear​

​Stunning looks of Gabriella Sellus​

​Nayanthara to Tabu, best photos of the week

All times when Disha Patani's wardrobe was serious fashion business

Baisakhi 2024: 10 traditional Punjabi dishes to celebrate the festival

C-section healing: Expert tips for recovery

9 fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin B that can be grown in a kitchen garden

Style lessons from Janhvi Kapoor on how to be the summer fashion muse

Meet internet's new crush: Stylish Prince Carl Philip of Sweden

• Entertainment /
• Movie Reviews /
• This film marks the first collaboration of uncle-nephew duo Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. Arjun is the son of Anil’s brother Boney Kapoor. Share
• This film marks the first collaboration of uncle-nephew duo Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. Arjun is the son of Anil’s brother Boney Kapoor.
• This is the second time Arjun Kapoor is playing a double role, the first being Aurangzeb (2013).
• The song ‘Yamma yamma’ from ‘Shaan’ is sampled in the song ‘Partywali Night' for the film.

Choose your reason below and click on the Submit button. This will alert our moderators to take action

• Foul language
• Inciting hatred against a certain community
• Out of context/Spam
• Copied from article

• ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ ఎన్నికలు
• లోక్‌సభ ఎన్నికలు
• Photogallery
• Telugu News
• Telugu Movies
• ​Movie Review
• Raja Sekhar And Athmeeya Rajan Starrer Sekhar Movie Review And Rating

సినిమా రివ్యూ

శేఖర్ | Shekhar Movie Review

విమర్శకుల రేటింగ్, యూజర్ రేటింగ్, మూవీకు రేటింగ్ ఇవ్వడానికి స్లైడ్ చెయ్యండి.

సూచించబడిన వార్తలు

మూవీ రివ్యూ

• Movie Reviews

Shekar Review

What's Behind

Angry Star Rajasekhar after scoring a hit with PSV Garuda Vega, entertained with a decent hit Kalki. Rajasekhar after a long time is coming with Shekar directed by his better-half Jeevitha. The film hit the screens today and let us see what impact Rajasekhar made on movie lovers.

Story Review

Shekar (Rajasekhar) resigns from his job as a cop and leads a secluded life along with his daughter Geetha (Shivani). He is addicted to alcohol but helps the department in solving cases. In the midst of all this, he gets a double personal shock and upon investigation, he unearths startling secrets. To find out more about the shocking secrets and developments in his personal and professional life and how they are connected to his wife Indu (Aathmeeya Rajendran), lover Keerthana( Muskaan Kubchandhani), and others, watch Shekar on screen.

Artists, Technicians Review

Jeevitha Rajasekhar on her debut as the director started off on an interesting note quickly going into the narration. Though the film kickstarts in a fast-paced manner, the narration from there on goes at a snail's pace. The entire first half is loaded with father-daughter sentiment, a father's love story, and also the strained relationship between the hero and his wife. The pace picks up ahead of the interval and a couple of twists. The entire story unfolds in the second half but even before one gets interested in the pace of the film, the pace dips much to their disappointment. The interesting twists and turns in between increase curiosity and the pre-climax and climax are well shot. However, despite all the efforts, the film turned out to be a routine entertainer as the makers though did not officially reveal that it is the remake of the Malayalam film Joseph, copy-pasted the film scene by scene except for including a couple of romantic scenes for the hero. Lakshmi Bhupala who made changes to the story included a few interesting ones but otherwise turned monotonous. Jeevitha's screenplay and direction are ok and followed the same pattern as that of the original.

Rajasekhar lived in the role of a cop who suffers from personal problems. He showed good expressions and emotions. He showed variations in body language and carried himself well on the screen. Dialogues of Rajasekhar made a powerful impact with intensity. Aathmeeya Rajan is good as the wife of Rajasekhar. Shivani, the daughter of Rajasekhar got limited scope to perform and the scenes involving Rajasekhar and Shivani are good. Muskaan Kubchandhani is confined to a song and few scenes and she indulged in glamor treats. Prakash Raj made his presence felt in a cameo as lawyer Balram. Abhinav Gomatam performed well in his role and others like Kannada Kishore, Sameer, Bharani, Ravi Varma, and Shravan Raghavendra performed according to their roles.

Anup Rubens' tunes for the songs are emotional, touching, and as per the situation. His BGM is fine. The cinematography of Mallikarjun Naragani is good but could have been better. The editing is just average and could have been far better as there are many drags throughout the film. Production values are good.

Disadvantages

Routine narration

Rating Analysis

Rajasekhar tried to highlight the shocking scams in his film Shekar. However, Jeevitha's screenplay and direction diluted the investigation stressing more on highlighting the emotions in the personal life just like in the original. Had Jeevitha paid more importance to the investigation by including twists and turns and exposing of the shocking scam that comes only in the pre-climax by working on the story, screenplay, and direction, the result would have been powerful. Considering all these points, CJ goes with a 2 rating for Shekar.

Cinejosh - A One Vision Technologies initiative, was founded in 2009 as a website for news, reviews and much more content for OTT, TV, Cinema for the Telugu population and later emerged as a one-stop destination with 24/7 updates.

Contact us     Privacy     © 2009-2023 CineJosh All right reserved.    

Gulte Telugu news

Shekar Movie Review

Article by Satya B Published by GulteDesk --> Published on: 1:42 pm, 20 May 2022

2 Hrs 11 Mins   |   Action   |   20-05-2022

Cast - Rajasekhar, Athmeeya, Muskaan, Shivani and others

Director - Jeevitha Rajasekhar

Producer - Sudhakara Reddy, Shivani, Shivathmika, Sreenivas

Banner - Pegasus. Taurus Cinecorp, Sudhakar Impex IPL, and Tripura Creations

Music - Anup Rubens

Rajashekar, who made a comeback with Garudavega, is hoping to sustain his position. He has chosen Malayalam film Joseph to remake. His wife Jeevitha wielded the megaphone and daughter Shivani Rajashekar played his daughter in the movie. Rajashekar is pinning high hopes on the film.

What is it about?

Shekar (Rajashekar), an investigation specialist in the police department, opts for a voluntary retirement after tragedy strikes his life – loses his darling daughter Geetha (Shivani). Occasionally, he helps the cops in cracking mystery cases. Shekar’s estranged wife Indu’s accidental death causes suspicion. As he starts investigating the case, he learns shocking details and unearths a major scam. How he resolves the crime mystery forms the crux of the story.

Performances:

Rajashekar’s one-man show in the film as he is seen throughout the movie almost in every frame. His grey hair and salt-and-pepper look is fresh. Most of the shots are close-ups and mediums. But after a point, he gets monotonous. He often gets tears in his eyes. He is stuck in the past – missing his daughter. Overall, he does a good job in investigative scenes.

Sai Kumar dubbed for Rajashekar which is a welcome development as one could hear vintage Rajashekar. Shivani is confined to a cameo as a daughter. She is seen in the flashback scenes. Rajashekar’s friends Sameer and others are just alright. Abhinav Gomatam does a fine job as a techie in the cyber crime wing.

Technicalities:

Shekar is the remake of Malayalam original Joseph. Director Jeevitha doesn’t find it hard as she made a frame-to-frame remake without any changes. But the first half is slow. She took a lot of time in establishing the premise and the characters. The plot takes off at the interval. Anup Rubens music isn’t impressive. Songs don’t offer relief.

Plus Points

Intriguing Plot Rajashekar

Minus Points

Sentiment Overdose Lacks Thrill Slow First Half

Directing a remake is always a double-edged sword given that it comes with its own risks and disadvantages. Most importantly, comparisons do exist. Though the makers have opted for a frame-to-frame remake and tried to pose like an honest remake, it is really lost in the translation. The emphasis is on the lack of thrill. Crime mysteries need to have edge-of-the-seat moments that are clearly missing in Shekar. The first half treads a familiar path.

Director Jeevitha wastes a chunk of screen time in establishing Shekar’s past and his emotions. The final rites of the dead are given so much importance and they are stretched out. Instead of creating sympathy or emotion, they test patience. The film only gets serious towards the interval. The pre-interval scenes bring some hope after a slow, boring first half.

The second-half revolves around the mystery and its solving. The good thing is the makers haven’t deviated from the story here. However, they just beat around the bush. The sentiment and drama overdosed, taking off the thrill factor. Barring these, Shekar has its moments in the latter half. As all the dots get connected, it becomes evident. It throws light on a serious issue of organised crime in today’s age. The problem with the film is it doesn’t have a villain, it lacks a face for the villain. So, one doesn’t get connected much for the crime going behind. Shekar isn’t on par with crime drama Drishyam. It falls flatter.

Bottom-line: A Failed Remake!

Rating: 2.25/5

Tags Rajasekhar Shekar

Click Here for Recommended Movies on OTT (List Updates Daily)

Thanks For Rating

Reminder successfully set, select a city.

• Nashik Times
• Aurangabad Times
• Badlapur Times

You can change your city from here. We serve personalized stories based on the selected city

• Edit Profile
• Briefs Movies TV Web Series Lifestyle Trending Medithon Visual Stories Music Events Videos Theatre Photos Gaming

Did you know Sridevi wanted to do a film with Amar Singh Chamkila but he refused for THIS reason?

Vidya Balan discloses how she hid her relationship with Siddharth Roy Kapur; says, ‘Our first few dates were only in the car’

From Arbaaz Khan celebrating first Eid with wife Shhura after marriage to Alia Bhatt turning peacemaker between Ranbir Kapoor and Salman Khan: TOP 5 entertainment news of the day

Old Bollywood pairs we want to see onscreen again

Pooja Batra: 'Virasat' changed my life; I want to make a comeback with a project that has a similar impact - Exclusive

Deepika Padukone flaunts her tanned back in photo from her babymoon; netizens speculate she has finally lasered off her 'RK' tattoo - See photo

Movie Reviews

Ooru Peru Bhairavakona

Kuch Khattaa Ho Jaay

Aakhir Palaayan Kab Tak...

The Holdovers

Singapore Saloon

Indian Police Force Sea...

• Movie Listings

​In pics: Vidya Pradeep’s stunning looks in ethnic wear​

​Nayanthara to Tabu, best photos of the week

Esha Kansara's resplendant clicks you can't miss

Navratri 2024, Day 4: Bollywood beauties dazzle in gorgeous green attires!

Disha Patani raises the glam bar with her latest look in a stunning pastel pink mini dress

Priyanka-Karan to Emraan-Mallika: Celebs who kissed and made up after huge feuds

Shruti Haasan's Unique Take on Red and Brown Saree Style is Unmissable

Aayushi Tiwari's stunning pics in lehenga

​Avika Gor radiates effortless beauty​

Sonalee Kulkarni's Best Looks

30 Hours Survival: Gau...

Detective Nysa

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan...

The Lost Girl

Ek Kori Prem Katha

Meri Maa Karma

Love Lies Bleeding

The Defective Detectiv...

The First Omen

Knox Goes Away

Godzilla x Kong: The N...

Kung Fu Panda 4

Arthur The King

Vaa Pagandaya

Iravin Kangal

Oru Thavaru Seidhal

Double Tuckerr

Marivillin Gopurangal

Varshangalkku Shesham

Vayassethrayayi Muppat...

The Goat Life

Secret Home

Anchakkallakokkan

Jananam 1947 Pranayam ...

Appa I Love You

Night Curfew

Bharjari Gandu

Avatara Purusha 2

Bengal Police Chapter ...

The Red Files

Chotto Piklu

Sheran Di Kaum Punjabi...

Jeonde Raho Bhoot Ji

Daddy Samjheya Karo

Chal Bhajj Chaliye

Fer Mamlaa Gadbad Hai

Pyar Naalo Yaar Chaang...

Alibaba Aani Chalishit...

Shishyavrutti

Lockdown Lagna

Bhagirathi Missing

Hee Anokhi Gaath

Lagna Kallol

Mahadev Ka Gorakhpur

Nirahua The Leader

Tu Nikla Chhupa Rustam...

Rowdy Rocky

Mental Aashiq

Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat...

Bol Radha Bol

Maru Mann Taru Thayu

Yaa Devi Sarvabhuteshu...

Sorry Sajna

Prem Ni Pathsala

Jhopadpatti

Vanilla Ice Cream

Jajabara 2.0

Operation 12/17

Dui Dune Panch

Kemiti E Sampark

Your rating, write a review (optional).

• Movie Listings /

Would you like to review this movie?

Cast & Crew

Latest Reviews

Baby Reindeer

Parasyte: The Grey

Dadur Kirti

Shekar - Official Trailer

Shekar | Song - Love Gante (Lyrical)

Shekar | Song Promo - Love Gante

Users' Reviews

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive . Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

• What is the release date of 'Shekar'? Release date of Rajasekhar and Athmiya starrer 'Shekar' is 2022-05-20.
• Who are the actors in 'Shekar'? 'Shekar' star cast includes Rajasekhar, Athmiya, Abhinav Gomatam and Ravi Varma.
• Who is the director of 'Shekar'? 'Shekar' is directed by Jeevitha Rajashekar.
• Who is the producer of 'Shekar'? 'Shekar' is produced by Beeram Sudhakara Reddy.
• What is Genre of 'Shekar'? 'Shekar' belongs to 'Drama,Comedy,Thriller' genre.
• In Which Languages is 'Shekar' releasing? 'Shekar' is releasing in Telugu.

Visual Stories

Entertainment

Ridhi Dogra's hair, a cascade of elegance

Sonakshi Sinha exudes regal vibes in a stunning gold embroidered red lehenga

​Stunning looks of Gabriella Sellus​

All times when Disha Patani's wardrobe was serious fashion business

Baisakhi 2024: 10 traditional Punjabi dishes to celebrate the festival

C-section healing: Expert tips for recovery

9 fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin B that can be grown in a kitchen garden

News - Shekar

Shekar Suman reveals that he got a lot of offers from p...

GV Prakash Kumar reveals major secrets about Dhanush's ...

Selvaraghavan teases fans with an update on 'Pudhupetta...

Madhusudhan Govind, Shruthi Prakash collaborate for rom...

'Sarkaaru Noukari' trailer: Bhavana Vazhapandal and Aka...

Deepak Tijori recalls 'Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar' winning ...

Upcoming Movies

Man Of The Match

Popular movie reviews.

Tillu Square

Family Star

Om Bheem Bush

Updated IST

• Click on the Menu icon of the browser, it opens up a list of options.
• Click on the “Options ”, it opens up the settings page,
• Here click on the “Privacy & Security” options listed on the left hand side of the page.
• Scroll down the page to the “Permission” section .
• Here click on the “Settings” tab of the Notification option.
• A pop up will open with all listed sites, select the option “ALLOW“, for the respective site under the status head to allow the notification.
• Once the changes is done, click on the “Save Changes” option to save the changes.

• Top Listing
• Upcoming Movies

Sekhar Twitter Review: Tweets To Go Through Before Watching Rajasekhar's Crime Thriller

After Kalki , actor Rajasekhar is now ready to hit the silver screen with this latest release titled Sekhar , an official remake of the Malayalam film Joseph . The movie is directed by none other than Jeevitha Rajasekhar and is a successful crime thriller in Malayalam.

The story is that of an inquisitive policeman who delves deeper into an accident which is a normal hit and run for anybody. The original film with a gripping story is received with great applause by the audience and the remake is expected to do the same.

Rajasekhar, who is of late seen in character-driven roles in movies like PSV Garuda Vega and Kalki , is picking subjects wisely. His daughters, Shivani and Shivatmika produced this film in collaboration with Boggaram Venkata Srinivas under Pegasus Cinecorp, Taurus Cinecorp, Sudhakar Impex IPL, Tripura Creations banners. Anup Rubens scored music for the film while Mallikarjuna Naragani wielded the camera.

The movie is also being made in Tamil as Visithiran starring RK Suresh and in Hindi with Sunny Deol playing the lead role.

In what can be called as unusual, the film's release was advanced to May 20 though initially it was scheduled to hit the screens on June 12.

Wonderful World Episode 13 OTT Release Date, Time, Platform: When & Where To Watch In India? Check DEETS

RC 16: Ram Charan, Janhvi Kapoor Will Be Joined By Sreeleela In Buchi Babu Sana's Sports-Based Drama; Details

Maidaan Box Office Collection Day 1: Ajay’s Film FAILS To Beat Shaitaan With Huge Gap Despite Good Reviews

Advertisement

• Don't Block
• Block for 8 hours
• Block for 12 hours
• Block for 24 hours
• Dont send alerts during 1 am 2 am 3 am 4 am 5 am 6 am 7 am 8 am 9 am 10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm 4 pm 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am to 1 am 2 am 3 am 4 am 5 am 6 am 7 am 8 am 9 am 10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm 4 pm 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am

Shekar Review – Faithful Passable Thriller

OUR RATING 2.25/5

CENSOR ‘U/A’ Certified, 2h 11m

One day Shekar comes to know that his divorced wife Indu has met with an accident. She later succumbs to the injuries. Upon visiting the accident site, Shekar realises that it is not an accident but a pre-planned murder. The movie’s primary story is who is behind the killing and how Shekar uncovers the mystery.

Performances Senior actor Dr Rajashekar plays a role that mostly suits his age. It offers him enough scope to emote emotionally and deliver a memorable act. However, it is only partly fulfilled.

Barring a slight stretch involving a flashback, Rajashekar sports a white and white look. The idea is correct, but the makeup, the beard and all could have been better designed. It looks a little tacky, and that appears as a distraction throughout. Looking beyond the appearance, Rajasekhar has done his part decently. The lack of ‘action’ covers the frailness neatly and highlights his strength. The emotions are on the spot barring a few moments (again due to looks). It is a good choice to do content-oriented flicks and roles at this stage of his career.

The original itself has enough content to balance the emotions and drama. All one has to do is appropriately execute the whole thing bringing in a few changes to acclimatise it to our nativity. It is a mixed bag on that count, especially in the first half.

Malayalam films, in general, are slow-paced, taking time to establish the world and the characters. Joseph was no different. Care has been taken in this regard by the director to keep things crispy considering the local audience. Shekar has some speed, although not optimal, and it helps the narrative flow despite the lag.

The real issue is the drama doesn’t work in Telugu. It feels forced, especially with the young Rajashekar look and track not being convincing at all. The whole thing takes up the first half until the interval mark, where the critical twist related to the narrative is revealed.

Post intermission is where the exciting part lies as the investigation commences. The entire stretch until a break with the song is engaging. It could have been more gripping, but what we also have is alright, as all it needs to do is stick to the original. The content is already there, and that has enough meat.

After the song, the thriller narrative resumes again until a twist in the tale and a dramatic end. The climax is good and in tune with the rest of the proceedings, but it misses the emotional high seen in the original.

Overall, Shekar ends up as a decent flick where the thriller parts work even with a flatness. The story is the king here, and it is the reason, along with Rajashekar’s presence, to give it a try.

Kishore, Sameer, Bharani, and Ravi Varma play the friends group of Rajashekar . They are underutilised and lack group chemistry. Abhinav Gomatam playing a pivotal role is okay. Prakash Raj, seen in a special appearance, is adequate as one expects from him.

Drawbacks? Emotional Drama Patchy Feel Slow Pace First Half

Did I Enjoy It? Yes, In Parts

Will You Recommend It? Yes, But With Huge Reservations.

Shekar Movie Review by M9News

• Web Stories
• Collections
• Best Telugu Feel-Good Movies
• Best Telugu Horror Movies
• Best Telugu Family Drama Movies

Free Credit Card

Sekhar Movie Review and Rating!

• May 20, 2022 / 05:24 PM IST

Angry Star Rajashekar’s new film, Sekhar under the direction of Jeevitha Rajashekar has hit the silver screens today. Let’s see how it goes.

Story: Though Sekhar( Rajasekhar) is an alcoholic cop, trusting his sharp investigation skills, the police department depends on him to solve mysterious crime cases. As a sub-plot, Sekhar’s family life will be showcased. Why did Sekhar turn alcoholic? What is his equation with his wife Indhu( Athmeeya Rajan) and daughter Geetha( Shivathmika)? To know that, you have to watch the film in the theatres near you.

Performances:  It is good to see Rajasekhar on screen after a brief gap. His makeover look with grey hair and thick beard is good. Performance-wise, the senior actor is decent in a cop role. Not only in investigation scenes but Rajasekhar impresses with his acting in emotional family scenes.

Young actress Shivathmika is cute on-screen and has given a decent performance small yet key role. Though Shivathmika will be seen in a few scenes, she impresses with her acting.

On the other hand, Athmeeya Rajan who did Rajasekhar’s wife role gave a convincing performance. Just like Shivathmika, Athmeeya also appears in a couple of family scenes but her character plays a key role in the second half of proceedings. George Reddy fame Muskaan Khubchandani gave a decent performance in her limited role.

Artists such as Sameer, Abhinav Gomatam, Kishore among others are okay in their supporting roles.

Technicalities: Anup Rubens’ music is good as his background score adds weightage to the key episodes in the second half. The film has three situational songs which are audible on screen. The cinematography by Mallikarjuna Naragani is good as he tried to present the natural locations in and around Araku in an effective manner.

For Rajasekhar’s role, Saikumar gave voiceover. His commendable dialogue delivery adds realistic texture to the film. Editing is decent. Production values for this tight budget movie are okay.

Analysis: Sekhar is an official remake of the 2018 Malayalam film, Joseph. Jeevitha Rajasekhar directs Sekhar. Though Jeevitha narrated the entire first half proceedings on a slow note, the execution of the crucial second half is good.

Though the pain behind Sekhar turning alcoholic is presented in a few episodes, a better detailing would have helped the film even better. Adding to it, Muskaan Khubchandani’s track with Rajasekhar would have been showcased in an even more engaging manner.

To summerize, Sekhar is a crime drama that deals with the loopholes in the medical industry. While Rajashekar impresses with his performance, the second half presentation makes Sekhar a passable watch.

Verdict: Faithful remake!

Rating: 2/5

Click Here To Read in TELUGU

Follow Filmyfocus WhatsApp Channel

• #Abhinav Gomatam
• #Athmeeya Rajan
• #Dr rajashekar
• #Jeevitha Rajashekar
• #Muskaan Kubchandhani

Dear Movie Review & Rating!

Box Office: The Ultimate South Cinema Lineup – Here Is the List

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan: A Disappointing Duo

Kanguva: Here’s the Latest Buzz on Release Date

Love Guru Movie Review & Rating!

Sriranga Neethulu Movie Review & Rating!

Related news.

Save The Tigers Season 2 Web Series Review and Rating.!

Kota Bommali PS Movie Review & Rating.!

SPY Movie Review & Rating

Thrill Packed Trailer of SPY Creates Excitement Among Fans!

SPY: Makers Reconfirm the Release Date

Jhoom Jhoom Re.. from Nikhil Siddhartha’s ‘Spy’ Clocks 2 Million Views

Trending news.

latest news

Geethanjali Malli Vachindi Movie Review & Rating.!

Akhil Akkineni’s Head-Turning New Look!

The Vijay-Danayya Combo: What’s the Story?

Chitralayam Studios, People Media Factory, Gopichand’s Film Titled Viswam

Why Did PVR Stop ‘Manjummel Boys’ Screenings?

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Movie Reviews

'civil war' is a doomsday thought experiment — that could have used more thinking.

Justin Chang

Kirsten Dunst plays a battle scarred photojournalist in Civil War. Murray Close/A24 hide caption

Kirsten Dunst plays a battle scarred photojournalist in Civil War.

Releasing a movie called Civil War in this election year is certainly one way to grab headlines. Surprisingly, though, Alex Garland 's ambitious new thriller largely sidesteps the politics of the present moment.

It wants to sound a queasy note of alarm, as if the democracy doomsday scenario it's showing us could really happen, but it's hard to buy into a premise that feels this thinly sketched. The story takes place in a not-so-distant future where Texas and California have improbably joined forces and seceded from the U.S.

Florida, not to be outdone, has also broken away on its own. The president, a third-term tyrant played by Nick Offerman , has responded by calling in the troops and launching airstrikes on his fellow Americans, plunging the country into poverty and lawlessness.

Garland keeps a lot of the details vague; he's less interested in how we might have gotten here than in how we would respond. To that end, he focuses on characters whose job it is to document what's happening.

Kirsten Dunst gives a strong, tough-minded performance as Lee, a skilled photojournalist who's covered conflicts all over the world and is now confronting this nightmare on her home turf. She's headed from New York to Washington, D.C., where many expect that the war, which has been raging for some time, will end with a showdown at the White House.

Accompanying Lee on this dangerous journey are two seasoned colleagues: Joel, a wily reporter played by Wagner Moura from Narcos , and Sammy, a veteran political writer played by the always outstanding Stephen McKinley Henderson.

The America in Civil War looks both familiar and unfamiliar. A24 hide caption

The America in Civil War looks both familiar and unfamiliar.

Per movie convention, there's also an inexperienced young outsider: Jessie, an aspiring war photographer played by Cailee Spaeny, the star of last year's biopic Priscilla . Not long into their trip, the four journalists stumble on a tense scene at a gas station where three armed men are holding two other men captive. The journalists get away without incident, but Jessie was deeply disturbed by what what was happening, started second guessing herself and didn't get the shot.

In time, Jessie gets better at her job; more than that, she becomes hooked. The movie is partly about the addictive thrill of thrusting a camera into a war zone. But it's also about the trauma and desensitization that these photographers experience as they put their emotions aside and do everything they can to get that perfect shot.

Here are 6 movies to see this spring

Civil War itself has been quite strikingly visualized by the cinematographer Rob Hardy and the production designer Caty Maxey. They show us an America that looks both familiar and unfamiliar, resembling the battlefields we've seen in footage from other conflicts in other places. There are surreally grim images of bloodstained sidewalks, bombed-out buildings, and a once-busy highway where rows of abandoned cars stretch for miles and miles. Garland has a real feel for post-apocalyptic landscapes, as we saw in his script for the zombie thriller 28 Days Later . In the movies he's directed since, like the brilliant Annihilation , he's shown a real talent for building suspense and anxiety.

A Masterful Glimpse Of Humanity's Physical — And Emotional — 'Annihilation'

But as stunningly detailed as Civil War 's dystopia is, from moment to moment, I hardly believed a thing I was seeing. As Lee and her pals inch closer to D.C., they go from one violent set-piece to another, each one calculated for maximum terror.

There's a nasty ambush at a Christmas theme-park display in the middle of nowhere, followed by a chilling encounter with a gun-toting racist psychopath played, in a mordant touch, by Jesse Plemons, Dunst's off-screen husband. The result is more of a button-pushing genre exercise than a serious reckoning with the consequences of the movie's premise. By the time the characters arrive at their destination, just in time for a daring raid on the White House, Civil War feels ever more like an empty stunt — a thought experiment that hasn't been especially well thought out.

Movie Interviews

Dunst: expressing something blue in melancholia.

If there's one thing that keeps you watching, though, it's Dunst's performance as a battle-scarred professional doing her job under horrific circumstances that she's too numb to feel horrified by. As she showed in her great performance in Lars von Trier 's Melancholia , there's something about Dunst that's particularly well suited to apocalyptic material. I wish her better vehicles than Civil War in the future, but it's gratifying to see her anchor a major movie regardless. She's an actor I'd follow to the end of the world and back.

‘Challengers’ Review: Zendaya and Company Smash the Sports-Movie Mold in Luca Guadagnino’s Tennis Scorcher

Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist compete for a fellow player’s heart in a steamy and stylish love triangle from the director of 'Call Me by Your Name.'

By Peter Debruge

Peter Debruge

Chief Film Critic

• ‘Challengers’ Review: Zendaya and Company Smash the Sports-Movie Mold in Luca Guadagnino’s Tennis Scorcher 6 hours ago
• Digging Into the Cannes Lineup, Sight Unseen: Heavy on English Movies and Light on Women 22 hours ago
• Cannes Film Festival Reveals Lineup: Coppola, Cronenberg, Lanthimos, Schrader and Donald Trump Portrait ‘The Apprentice’ in Competition 2 days ago

Anyone who’s ever played tennis knows the game starts with love and escalates fast. In Luca Guadagnino ’s hip, sexy and ridiculously overheated “ Challengers ,” the rivals are former doubles partners Art Donaldson ( Mike Faist ) and Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor), best friends since the age of 12, who went their separate ways after both players fell for the same woman. Patrick got there first, but Art wound up marrying her — and their sense of competition has only intensified since.

Popular on Variety

“I’m no homewrecker,” Tashi teases Art and Patrick the night they meet her, 13 years earlier. Constructed like a tennis competition, Justin Kuritzkes’ screenplay ricochets back and forth through time, asking us to pivot our brains the way audiences do at the movie’s opening challenger match. (In pro tennis, challenger events are like the minor leagues, where second-tier talents prove themselves.) This one frames the film, as Tashi seems torn between her husband and his old partner.

Watching from the stands, their legs splayed indecently wide, the pair ogle Tashi as the wind whips her short skirt up in the air. None of this is accidental: not the way Jonathan Anderson (as in J.W. Anderson, switching from catwalks to costume design in his first feature credit) showcases Zendaya’s gazelle-like legs, not the way DP Sayombhu Mukdeeprom frames the boys’ crotches, and certainly not the moment Patrick squeezes his pal’s leg as Tashi shows them how, at its most beautiful, the game can be an ecstatic experience.

Later that night, at an Adidas-sponsored party for Tashi, the guys take turns trying to get her number. They’re motivated by hormones. She’s more strategic (the sheer control involved in Zendaya’s performance is astonishing, transforming this would-be trophy into the one who sets the rules). “You don’t know what tennis is,” Tashi challenges Patrick, going on to explain, “It’s a relationship.” Lines like this, which spell everything out in blinking neon lights, run throughout Kuritzkes’ script. But Guadagnino’s execution is all about subtext, calibrating things such that body language speaks volumes.

The same goes for what promises to be the year’s hottest scene, back in the boys’ hotel room, as Tashi sits on the bed between the two and coaxes — or coaches — them to make out. “Challengers” is not a gay film per se, but it leaves things ambiguous enough that one could read it like Lukas Dhont’s recent “Close,” about a friendship so tight, the boys’ peers tease them for it.

Over the course of 131 minutes, “Challengers” volleys between what amounts to a romantic rematch and intimate earlier vignettes. At all times, even off-screen, Tashi remains the fulcrum. In the present, Art — whose torso shows signs of multiple surgeries — has been on a cold streak, which betrays a loss of passion for the game. Passion’s no problem for Patrick, who’s more confident in both his swing and his sexuality.

The film calls for intensely physical performances from the two male actors, who both appear wobbly and exhausted by the end. Faist (a Broadway star whom “West Side Story” introduced to moviegoers) has a relatively traditional character arc, patiently waiting his turn and evolving as the timeline progresses. O’Connor (whose smoldering turn in gay indie “God’s Own Country” got him cast on “The Crown”) comes across as animalistic and immature by comparison, as his bad-boy character refuses to grow up or give up.

Another filmmaker might have subtracted himself in order to foreground the story, whereas Guadagnino goes big, leading with style (and a trendy score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross). In keeping with the athletic theme, he does all kinds of wild things with the camera, including a composition framed from the umpire’s perspective mid-court that zooms along the net to find Tashi in the crowd. Occasionally, she and other characters smack the fluorescent yellow balls directly at the screen, making us flinch in our seats. By the end, “Challengers” has assumed the ball’s POV — or maybe it’s the racket’s — as Guadagnino immerses audiences in the film’s climactic match.

Far from your typical sports movie, “Challengers” is less concerned with the final score than with the ever-shifting dynamic between the players. The pressure mounts and the perspiration pours, as the pair once known as “Fire and Ice” face off again. Whether audiences identify as Team Patrick or Team Art, Guadagnino pulls a risky yet effective trick, essentially scoring the winning shot himself.

Reviewed at AMC Century City 15, Los Angeles, April 9, 2024. MPA Rating: R. Running time: 131 MIN.

• Production: Amazon MGM presentation of a Why Are You Acting?, Frenesy Films, Pascal Pictures production. Producers: Amy Pascal, Luca Guadagnino, Zendaya, Rachel O’Connor. Executive producers: Bernard Bellew, Lorenzo Mieli, Kevin Ulrich.
• Crew: Director: Luca Guadagnino. Camera: Sayonbhu Mukdeeprom. Editor: Marco Costa. Music: Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross. Music supervisor: Robin Urdang.
• With: Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist.

More From Our Brands

Nhl livestream: how to watch the 2023-24 hockey season online, what the watch world could learn from this year’s daring, wondrous women’s collections, michael phelps’ coach bowman will earn over $400k at texas, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, the talk ending with season 15 at cbs, verify it's you, please log in.

Like many musical adaptations, ‘The Outsiders’ overexplains itself

The new broadway show adapted from s. e. hinton’s novel and francis ford coppola’s movie has great visual touches but falters when the characters open their mouths.

NEW YORK — The big fight that takes place toward the end of the new show “The Outsiders” ranks as one of the most impactful (literally) moments of this, or any, Broadway season. And the director, Danya Taymor, pulls it off by gathering all the theatrical tools at her disposal, except for music — a daring choice for a musical.

The Style section

Those familiar with S.E. Hinton’s novel “The Outsiders” or its movie adaptation by Francis Ford Coppola — and that’s a lot of people in this country — know that the story, set in 1967 Tulsa, revolves around two warring gangs, the Greasers and the Socs. In the show, their climactic, rain-soaked rumble is punctuated only by the thumps of fists and kicks viciously hitting their targets, by grunts of rage and groans of pain. Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman’s fight and movement choreography works in symbiosis with Brian MacDevitt’s stark lighting and Cody Spencer’s imaginative sound design.

Similar inventiveness is on display throughout, albeit on a smaller scale, as when a few tires and boards are enough to make us see characters jump aboard a freight train. The one major stumble is the burning of an abandoned church, a key scene that is baffling if you don’t know what’s meant to happen. (The scenic design is by the collective AMP featuring Tatiana Kahvegian.)

So yes, “The Outsiders” is compelling from a visual standpoint. It’s when the characters open their mouths that it falters.

Adapted by Adam Rapp (“The Sound Inside”) and Justin Levine (who also wrote the score with the folk-rock duo Jamestown Revival), the show’s book closely follows the novel’s framework. Center stage in both is the 14-year-old narrator, Ponyboy (an appropriately angsty Brody Grant), who has been living with his older brothers Sodapop (Jason Schmidt) and Darrel (Brent Comer) since their parents’ death.

The siblings are all Greasers, the chosen family of assorted misfits who proudly live on the wrong side of the tracks. Their enemies, the rich Socs (short for “socialites”), are blessed with “better clothes and better cars and better lives,” as Ponyboy explains in an introductory number, “Tulsa ’67, ” that lays down the setting and the stakes in a clump of artless exposition.

And therein lies the problem: The show overexplains everything, all the time. Hinton knew exactly how much to say and when — the paperback edition of “The Outsiders” is just 180 concise, evocative pages that let us discover things along with Ponyboy. Here, both the book and the songs tend to underestimate the audience’s intelligence. (This is surprising coming from Rapp, who is usually not afraid of ambiguity.)

The novel’s Darrel, for example, is a distant cipher for most of the story, making Ponyboy’s realization of how much his brother loves him all the more poignant. Onstage, on the other hand, Darrel details the emotional weight he’s shouldering early on in “Runs in the Family,” one of the several “I want” numbers that dot the show — in case we don’t understand the first time, or the fifth, that underneath the bravado, these are sensitive kids, yearning for love and stability. Even “Queen of the Socs” Cherry (Emma Pittman) gets to share a bit of domestic turbulence.

The most troubled are Johnny (Sky Lakota-Lynch), a shy teen who is Ponyboy’s brother by bond, and the boys’ friend and protector Dallas (Joshua Boone). Originally an unpredictable loose cannon, Dally, as his friends call him, is now an honorable knight in black leather, whom Boone imbues with a warm voice and a steady gravitas. That character’s background and dreams have been developed in the show, perhaps in an attempt to make him, like Darrel, less opaque — as if theatergoers were assumed to lose interest when not hand-fed backstory.

But this backfires, lessening the suspense and tension in a tale in which violence is either central or humming in the background. Not that you would know it from a score overly reliant on samey folk-pop ballads that lack dramatic weight and can feel redundant. Immediately after Johnny kills a Soc (Kevin William Paul) in a strongly staged scene, for example, he and Ponyboy sing a song, “Run Run Brother,” that starts by rehashing what we have just seen, to much lesser effect. A musical where the sonic storytelling constantly pales next to the visual one has a bit of a problem on its hands.

The Outsiders , ongoing at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in New York. 2 hours, 30 minutes, including an intermission. outsidersmusical.com .

• Like many musical adaptations, ‘The Outsiders’ overexplains itself Earlier today Like many musical adaptations, ‘The Outsiders’ overexplains itself Earlier today
• A tricky father-daughter play about being wrong for the right reasons April 11, 2024 A tricky father-daughter play about being wrong for the right reasons April 11, 2024
• A play with a crude title shows how language plays tricks on us April 10, 2024 A play with a crude title shows how language plays tricks on us April 10, 2024

• HOME AND DECOR
• BEAUTY AND WELLNESS
• MIND AND BODY
• RELATIONSHIPS
• NEW LAUNCHES
• PHOTOGRAPHY
• CELEBS & ENTERTAINMENT
• MIND & BODY
• FOOD & RECIPES
• FASHION & LIFESTYLE
• GADGETS & TECH
• CARS & BIKES
• FORMULA ONE

Shekar Movie Review: An engrossing thriller

Jeevitha Rajasekhar's latest directorial Shekar is a compelling investigative thriller that throws light on the life of a retired police constable, who is going through emotional turmoil. An official remake of the Malayalam crime thriller Joseph (2018), Jeevitha stays mostly faithful to the blueprint of the original film aside from making it tight and crisp in the second hour.

Cast: Dr Rajasekhar, Shivani Rajasekhar, Athmiya Rajan, Muskaan Khubchandani Director: Jeevitha Rajasekhar

Shekar ( Dr Rajasekhar ) is a man of restrained emotions and is popular in his department for his adept investigative skills. Shekhar and three of his friends lead an undisciplined retired life and the group does not miss an opportunity to use their expertise when there's a suspicious case in the town. He is still the go-to guy for his superiors and he doesn't hesitate to help them crack unsolved murder cases. After tracing the culprit behind a twin murder case, Shekar returns to his home only to be haunted by the memories of his ex-wife Indu (Athmiya Rajan) and daughter Geetha ( Shivani Rajasekhar ). He couldn't give up on the happiest memories and the cheerful life he spent with his loved ones and we get to see the many layers and sublayers of his life as the back story begins to unfold.

Deftly switching between the twin tragedies and the mastery in personal crime scene investigation, Shekar slowly draws you into the suspense at the heart of its plot. The story doesn’t veer off into comedy tracks and romances either — at least not too much. Most of the twists are smartly revealed, and Shekar builds on the little unexpected things. With mobile tower tracking, Benzidine test (for detection of bloodstains), call dumping, data matching, creating a plan, and providing a picture of events serving as key plot points, you get the sense of being consistently invested in the outcome of the investigation.

The screenplay unravels skillfully but also quite sluggishly, especially in the first half which ends in a fantastic twist. The second hour picks up the pace with interesting plot twists and detailing what is the mission and who Shekar’s target is. Jeevitha deserves applause for constructing Shekar’s world to perfection —  be it his present life with his friends, his love story in the past, and his strained relationship with his wife. She has also handled the relationship between Shekar and Mallikharjun (Kishore), his ex-wife’s husband, in a mature way. But I am unable to understand why Mallikharjun from the very first scene has immense respect for Shekar and perhaps, some detailing into their acquaintance would have made things a bit more interesting. The songs too sync well with the narrative and perfectly complement the flashback sequences. Araku Valley makes for an evocative setting, and Jeevitha Rajasekhar relies heavily on scenic beauty.

Then there are those plot holes like the ease with which Shekar goes in and out of people’s homes at will. The director failed to bring the nail-biting suspense that will keep the viewers enthralled from start to finish. As with many films in the genre, we’re required to take a giant leap of faith when faced with the facts of the crimes. The climax coated with an underlying message seems stretched and underwhelming.

What helps Shekar is its brilliant cast of actors, each never trying to dominate the other, but performing committed to their characters. Dr Rajasekhar brings to the table what only he can as the anguished father, emotional husband and abandoned lover, who hid his feelings under his tired eyes. He is fantastic in the character, conveying angst, guilt and enthusiasm in everything from his body language to his dialogues. Sameer, Bharani and Abhinav Gomatam are reliably solid as Shekar's friends. Athmiya Rajan makes an impression, while Muskaan Khubchandani, who appears in the flashback, portrays heart-rendering emotions with ease. In fact, it is these characters that provide the emotional wallop to the story. Shivani Rajasekhar, although billed as a special appearance, delivers a subtle act. Kishore is alright.

Anup Rubens's background score is the soul of the film, while Mallikarjuna Naragani's cinematography is eye-catching as in the original.

Overall, Shekar is an engrossing thriller that benefits from efficient direction and an inherently riveting plot (originally written by Shahi Kabir). The film seldom loses its grip or your attention and stays engaging when it focuses on its core plot.

Related Article

Anil Ravipudi: I want to direct a film like Mayabazar in the future

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana promotes Anek in Kolkata

Actor Sanjay Bishnoi chats with us about his recent outing, Thar

Related Stories

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Michelle Goldberg

‘Civil War’ and Its Terrifying Premonition of American Collapse

By Michelle Goldberg

Opinion Columnist

Going into Alex Garland’s astonishing new film, “Civil War,” I expected to be irritated by the implausibility of its premise. I’m not talking about the idea that America could devolve into vicious internecine armed conflict. That seems possible, if not probable. In one 2022 poll , 43 percent of Americans said they thought a civil war within the next decade was at least somewhat likely. I wouldn’t go that far, but I won’t be surprised if political violence spikes after the upcoming election and eventually spirals out of control. I’m pretty confident, however, that if the sort of war Garland depicts ever actually broke out in this beleaguered nation, California and Texas wouldn’t be on the same side.

“Civil War” has received plenty of adulatory reviews, but Garland has also been widely criticized for eliding the ideological forces driving America’s fracturing. He’s repeatedly spoken about the dangers of polarization, a bit of a cop-out, given that only one American political party has leaders who lionize violent insurrection. This month A24, the powerhouse indie production company behind “Civil War,” released a map of the film’s fictional divisions on social media, under the hokey caption “Pledge your allegiance.” It showed an America split among the Loyalist States, stretching from the East Coast through the center of the country; the southern Florida Alliance; the secessionist Western Forces of California and Texas; and the New People’s Army of the northwest, which sounds vaguely Maoist.

This suggested a fictional universe in which far-right militias and antifa groups pose comparable threats, an impression strengthened by some of Garland’s comments at South by Southwest, the Austin, Texas, cultural festival where “Civil War” debuted . “I have a political position, and I have good friends on the other side of that political divide,” he said . “Honestly, I’m not trying to be cute. What’s so hard about that?” The obvious answer is that friendly disagreement between left and right is possible on some issues but not others; there’s no fruitful debate to be had about, for example, whether migrants are “poisoning the blood” of our country. Garland’s No Labels-style denunciation of extremism in general — as opposed to the particular kind of extremism behind America’s most deadly recent political violence — seemed to me a little glib and cynical, as if he wanted to make a hugely provocative movie but not risk offending potential audiences. If you’re going to dramatize many of our worst fears about the trajectory of American politics, I thought you should take the substance of those politics seriously.

But now that I’ve seen “Civil War,” which is neither glib nor cynical, Garland’s decision to keep the film’s politics a little ambiguous seems like a source of its power. The emphasis here should be on “a little” because, contrary to some of what I’d read, its values aren’t inscrutable, just lightly worn. Yes, there is a reference, early on, to “Portland Maoists.” We learn that the film’s heroine, a valiant, traumatized combat photographer named Lee, is famous for shooting the “antifa massacre,” but we never find out if antifa members were the perpetrators or victims. Still, it’s not a stretch to interpret the film as a premonition of how a seething, entropic country could collapse under the weight of Donald Trump’s return.

As “Civil War” opens, America’s third-term president — a man who will later be compared to Benito Mussolini, Nicolae Ceausescu and Muammar el-Qaddafi — is practicing a blustering speech. “We are now closer than we have ever been to victory,” he says, falsely, adding, “Some are already calling it the greatest victory in the history of mankind.” Nick Offerman, who plays the president, doesn’t imitate Trump’s mannerisms, but the phrasing — the absurd, mendacious hyperbole attributed to nameless third parties — is extremely familiar. Soon after this scene, a journalist imagines asking him if, in retrospect, disbanding the F.B.I. was a mistake.

The action in “Civil War” is driven by Lee and her colleagues’ quest to make it from New York to Washington, D.C., to capture the president’s overthrow by rapidly advancing rebel forces. (The front line, in a resonant note, is in Charlottesville, Va.) In the film’s most gutting scene, a paramilitary soldier filling a mass grave asks each of the journalists where they’re from. Lee is from Colorado, and a younger reporter whom she’s reluctantly taken on as a protégée is from Missouri. To the soldier, these women, who are, like him, both white, are the right kind of American. Others in their party don’t qualify.

Given this setup, the ideological indeterminacy of the rebels helps the movie avoid seeming schematic or didactic. “Civil War” is an antiwar war movie; you’re not supposed to root for anyone except the journalists witnessing it. Part of what makes it so searing, though, is that aside from its unlikely California-Texas alliance, its story doesn’t require too much explanation to make sense. Garland has said that the dynamics depicted in “Civil War” aren’t specific to America, but had he attempted a similar movie about his native England, a lot more narrative scaffolding would have been required to show how citizens turned fratricidal, not to mention where all the heavy weapons came from. In America, you need less signposting on the route from our uneasy present to an imagined implosion. The movie’s refugee camps don’t look all that different from the tent encampments in many American cities. The paramilitary guy, in his fatigues and goofy red sunglasses, could easily be a Boogaloo Boi or an Oath Keeper. The culminating battle in the capital is a more intense version of scenes we witnessed on Jan. 6.

Early in the movie Lee says, “Every time I survived a war zone and got the photo, I thought I was sending a warning home: Don’t do this.” “Civil War” works as a similar sort of warning. It’s close enough to where America is right now that we don’t need Garland to fill in all the blanks.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

Michelle Goldberg has been an Opinion columnist since 2017. She is the author of several books about politics, religion and women’s rights, and was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize for public service in 2018 for reporting on workplace sexual harassment.