Radhe Shyam review: All hollow posturing no substance
Radhe Shyam
Starring Prabhas, Pooja Hegde
Written& Directed byRadha Krishna Kumar
Rating: * ½
Vikramaditya, our hero in this Tsunami of a film, can tell the future. He readsMrs Gandhi's (yes THE Mrs G's) palm with a monkish calm and declares that she would soon declare an emergency in the country. Theonscreen Mrs Graises aneyebrow into hershrub of whitened hair and asksVikramaditya, ‘Do youeven know what you are saying?’
This isexactly the question that comesto mind many timesas one sits transfixed to the very strange goings-on in'Radhe Shyam'. Is thisbird ora plane or pain in the nether regions?
Tell tell. What is this meant to be? Prabhas thesuperstarwho cando no wrong, says it is a “pure” love story. But sorry, there is nothing pure aboutthestyle in which writer-director Radha KrishnaKumar has mounted his monumentally misfired romance, so off-kilterit will put you off palmistry and all things mistry including chemistry, palmistry and Amit Mistry for all times to come.
Yes, I am trying to be facetious. It isa survivalinstinct I use when I am in deep pain. Like losing alovedone to Covid. Orwatching afilm so unbearablyself-importantand so laughablyintentonbeing intense thatthe wholeendeavour seems designedtobring down everylove trope that you have ever seen in any film on love from 'Romeo & Juliet' to 'Love Aaj Kal'.
Also read:Will 'Radhe Shyam' click in Hindi? Trade analysts kick in
By the way, 'Radhe Shyam' isnot 'Love Aaj Kal'. It is love in the 1970s set in the mongrelized imaginationofsome strange art designer whosuggestsamarriageof baroque withplastic. Thecostumes are largely gauzy gowns forPooja Hedgeand light polo necks withtight trousersfor Prabhas accompaniedby several accessorieslike scarves belts, abrooch,antique phone sets and fancy crockery that suggestan affluent lifestyle.
Sadly theframes convey a sterile emptied-outfeeling as ifthe art designer andother technicianshad built a lifesize doll’s house with Barbie emotions to match. Prabhas andMs Hegde whisper sweet-nothings, literally, to oneanother: it's all about posing posturing andmasquerading.
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This isall a masqueradeofreal love, withhighfalutinideas ondestinyimpinging on theimmaculateartificialityofthegoing-on likea dollop ofhomemade honeythrown over a messy gooey meltingmound of factory-made chocolate ice cream. The lead playerslookcompletely uninvolved with oneanotherandwith the ersatzintensity andintimacy thatthe storytelling generates likeelectric fire logs, with leaping flames that are just for show.
As for the supporting cast, somegood actors likeSachin Khedekar, Sathyaraj and Jagapathi Babu are reduced tomere caricatures.The hospital wherea part of thedrama unfoldsresembles a museumin transitionwith everydisease from hypochondriato cancerconverted intocomic relief.
In the end, only one of thetwo love birds isdestined to live. And we reallydon'tcare which oneit is.