Movie Review ‘Shivam’: A Ra(w) one for Upendra

Ever since the production of this film took off, it made series of news, most of them for bad reasons - from controversies relating to its earlier proposed titles to posters and even religious community expressing displeasure ending with a court case been filed against it. On the other hand, real star Upendra’s new avatar as a ‘typical Brahmin’ pairing up with the hot Ragini Dwivedi raised expectations and some even projecting it to become a path breaking film! However, the much hyped Shivam directed by Srinivasa Raju of Dandupalya fame is nothing of that sort.

Neither the script work is good or the making. The only relief for the audience is Upendra in his new avatar with his usual mannerism and Saloni with a pretty performance in addition to Ragini spicing it up with her glamour as an undercover RAW agent!

The protagonist is first projected as a don operating abroad while he shoots down another don before heading his way to his orthodox family, which has a tradition of serving the deity Kala Bhairaveshwara as head priests. The movie moves in a snail pace mixed with all the internal politics over the temple administration with few eying on its property and another over the supremacy. Following the death of his father, Basavanna steps in as the head priests. Meanwhile there is a love interest and a boring humour plot.

The ‘dead’ don surfaces. Confused! Well, stay on there is much more such twists as Basavanna is none other than a RAW agent who is sent on a mission against mafia gangs. But with his new responsibility as the head priest continuing his family tradition, Basavanna resigns. Wait, his resignation is not ‘yet’ accepted and is requested to take on sandalwood smugglers! Now, this is too much to digest - a RAW agent taking on sandalwood smugglers. Music by Mani Sharma is below average apart from the melody ones and the highlight is the two hot ‘item’ numbers and the snake tattoo on Ragini.