Turf trauma. Our Winner boy is
waiting for the grand entry. In the meanwhile, we have the extended prologue
(that went out of fashion with Manmohan Desai and Prakash Mehra). Fortunately,
it is not about calf love but filial connect. Bad Dad Dharam (Mukesh Rishi) and
his son Good Dad Mahender Reddy (Jagapathi Babu). Bad Dad plans a conspiracy,
makes peace with son Good Dad who had left palace, prosperity, horses and
wealth for lady love. On invite the son returns with his son in tow. However,
the Dad and son soon part ways. Loving son grows up to being equinophobic and a
Dad hater. Soon he is ‘mega power’.
First the baddies are introduced. The hero Ram (Sai Dharam Tej) is then brought
in amidst din and dust and a few reels dedicated to his multifaceted talent
which predictably includes the entire gamut from bash to blush. Next move to
the pub to run into the ‘the most beautiful’ Sitara (Rakul Preet Singh) and
from here it is song, dance, neigh and yeahs and the one liners of the side
kick Padma (Vennela Kishore). Three songs, foreign locales and we are still
waiting for the story to move on. Time for the second comedian to enter so we
have Singham Sujata (Pridhvi) and just when you think your ticket is for
comedy, we have the villain Siddharth (Thakur Anoop Singh) enter and establish
his evil credentials.
The gal is steadily falling in love with the guy who destroys furniture with
single minded devotion and answers the DDLJ look back test positively. Now as
the film is getting too linear, time for a twist: loud bang back ground score
and Cola time just as baddie claims to be the heir apparent of the Derby crazy
family.
The battle lines are drawn. The bad guys Vs the good have their territories
marked. So, winner is busy consolidating his hero position and villain digging
his grave. Meanwhile heroine is going through her well-choreographed presence.
Hero is busy establishing himself in enemy territory soliloquies, kicking,
boxing, beating, threatening… With the script writer not confident with the
skill sets enter Comedian III Horseman Babu (Ali). Don’t miss the sick horse
humour with double meaning suggestions. Now since the humour does not work the
director reverts to the choreographer. Actually, the editor would have been the
best bet. The logic appears to be at least this choice keeps the costume
designer and the teen maar specialist in place. Head straight to the finale.
All eyes on the nail biting finale race between good and evil, hero and
villain, polka dots vs broad stripes, Money Vs Pappa……
Beware the editor (Pravin Pude) has taken a holiday. Everything shot is on
display and most of it is what finds its way on the wrong side of the editing
table. If this can be a winner, then be sure it is fixed. There is not much one
can recommend about this formula stricken tale. Here every moment is template
dictated. So, forget the tale or the treatment. Let’s look at the cast to save
the day. No luck here either.
Mukesh Rishi is larger than life in size. Anoop Singh (like Gulshan Grover)
believes that hair style maketh a villain. No luck. The three guys for comedy
try their best. Jagapathi Babu has a script written for him: brood keep the
salt and pepper stubble and flex muscle. Task accomplished. Rakul waltz through
and is willingly a victim to gender objectification. She quickly needs to
change her dress designer too. Sai Dharam Teja is fine when asked to dance and
punch but cannot save his life when called to emote.
Winner is a misnomer. There is not a horse worth betting in this race. Go for
it only if you are addicted.
Rating: 2 stars
+ scale
– 155 minutes.
L. Ravichander.