Movie review 'Kshanam': Former boyfriend makes it an ex'cellent movie

Cast: Adivi Sesh, Adah Sharma, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Satya Dev, Ravi Varma, Vennela Kishore and Satyam Rajesh
Director: Ravikanth

 

The small-budget film Kshanam had been in the news before its release because it has been produced by the big production house PVP. Adivi Sesh, who has earlier proved his mettle with films like Baahubali, Panjaa and Run Raja Run, plays the lead role while Adah Sharma plays the female lead. Young director Ravikanth Parepu debuts with this film.

The movie starts with two African nationals attacking Shwetha (Adah Sharma). She calls her college mate and ex-boyfriend Rishi (Adivi Sesh), who is an investment banker in the US, for help. Rishi comes to Hyderabad to meet Shwetha, who tells him that the attackers have kidnapped her daughter. She has called him as no one helped her, including the police. She also tells Rishi that even her husband (Satya Dev) did not believe her.

Rishi decides to help her and starts his own investigation. The investigation team headed by ACP Jaya Bharadwaj (Anasuya) has closed the case citing the reason that Shwetha’s mental condition is not stable. And Rishi, too, comes to the same conclusion after a while.

But while delving deeper, some interesting facts come to light along with a few twists and turns. How he finds the missing girl in the end is the crux of the story.
Kudos to young debutant director Ravikanth Parepu for coming up out with a new concept. And he was ably supported by Adivi Sesh who provided the story and also the screenplay.

From the beginning of the film, the director maintains a tempo and keeps the audience interested. Though the movie is made with a limited budget, the rich visuals and technical values of the film are brilliant.

In the present scenario of Telugu cinema, with “formula” films ruling the roost, Kshanam is a breath of fresh air. The director also breaks the rule of six songs with action scenes thrown in as he concentrates on his subject and never deviates from it.

When it comes to the performances, Adivi Sesh is brilliant as an NRI. He has already proven himself as an actor, but this film takes him to another level. He carries the entire film on his shoulders.

Adah Sharma, too, has performed well; in fact this is her best outing till date.
There are other surprises in the film like Satyam Rajesh and Anasuya Bharadwaj. Rajesh, who generally appears in comic roles, plays a serious cop and carries it off well. Anasuya, who is popular on small screen, got her first meaty role on the big screen. Her character is interesting and she has performed well. Vennela Kishore, too, has deviated from his comic roles with a serious and important role in this film.

Ravi Varma as a drug addict and Satya Dev as Adah Sharma’s husband are also impressive. For this kind of genre, the background music is important and Sricharan Pakala has hit the bullseye. The cinematography by Shaneil is also excellent and the visuals are thrilling. While there are a few logical flaws in Kshanam, it is an interesting deviation from normal Telugu films.