Mr. Bachchan (2024)-“A Remake Experiment Gone Wrong“

 

Director: Harish Shankar

Starring: Ravi Teja, Jagapathi Babu, Bhagyashri Borse, Sachin Khedekar, Satya, Nellore Sudarshan

Producers: TG Vishwa Prasad, Vivek Kuchibhotla

Production House: People Media Factory

Music Director: Mickey J Meyer

Cinematography: Ayananka Bose

Editor: Ujwal Kulkarni

Language: Telugu

Genre: Action

Runtime: 143 minutes

Plot:

Mr. Bachchan is a Telugu remake of Ajay Devgn’s 2018 film Raid. It revolves around an honest income tax officer (Ravi Teja) who takes on a powerful and corrupt industrialist (Jagapathi Babu). The story is inspired by the longest income tax raid in India, targeting the industrialist Sardar Inder Singh.

Performances:

Ravi Teja: 

Delivers a commendable performance, trying to carry the film on his shoulders with his energy and dedication.

Jagapathi Babu:

Brings intensity to his role as the antagonist, making a strong impact.

Bhagyashri Borse:

Adds charm as the love interest, though her role is limited.

Sachin Khedekar, Satya, Nellore Sudarshan: 

Provide decent support, contributing to the narrative.

Technical Aspects:

Direction: 

Harish Shankar is known for his impactful remakes, but this time, he struggles to maintain coherence and engaging storytelling, especially in the second half.

Music: 

Mickey J Meyer’s music is catchy but does not significantly elevate the film.

Cinematography:

Ayananka Bose captures the era well, but the visuals do not particularly stand out.

Editing: 

Ujwal Kulkarni could have provided a crisper edit, especially in the dragging second half.

Production Design:

Avinash Kolla authentically recreates the 90s setting, adding a layer of authenticity.

Strengths:

• Ravi Teja’s energetic performance.

• Strong supporting cast.

• Authentic 80s setting.

Weakeness:

• The second half drags and fails to maintain the initial momentum.

• Unnecessary subplots, like the comic track and old-age love story, dilute the narrative.

• Overuse of songs disrupts the flow.

My Personal Take on Cinema:

Mr. Bachchan is a film that attempts to blend mass appeal with a serious narrative but ultimately loses its way due to lack of coherence and engaging storytelling in the second half. Despite Ravi Teja’s best efforts, the film struggles to keep the audience hooked. The unnecessary subplots and overuse of songs are major drawbacks, making the film a less compelling watch.

Rating: 2/5