Run Raja Run review: Run as fast you can

August 01, 2014 07:39 pm | Updated 08:04 pm IST - Hyderabad

TOO LITTLE TOO LATE A still from the film

TOO LITTLE TOO LATE A still from the film

Filmmaker Sujeeth’s directorial debut was touted to be different from the run-of-the-mill stories doing the rounds in the Telugu film industry. And to a certain extent he does seem to succeed in pulling off what seems like a story with unexpected twists. But does the film survive the lacklustre treatment it is meted out?

Run Raja Run is about Raja (Sharwanand) a seemingly good-for-nothing serial dater, encouraged by his vegetable vendor father played by V. Jayaprakash. Things for the unlucky in love Raja change when he ‘bumps’ into Priya (Seerat Kapoor) and sparks fly. As he goes about trying to woo her using tips doled out by his father he realises that her father is police commissioner Dilip (Sampath Raj).

In a parallel track Dilip is trying to outwit a notorious gang of kidnappers that has been abducting prominent police personnel and politicians sparking uproar in the city. Dilip, who is considered to be one of the best cops, is routinely given tip-offs and seemingly brilliant ideas by junior officer Nayim (Adivi Sesh). But Dilip doesn’t pay heed. What he does instead is borrows one of Nayim’s ideas and tries to trap Raja so he can be held responsible for the spate of abductions and be kept away from Priya. Everything seems to be going as per his plan with the seemingly ‘gullible’ Raja playing along, until the big twist that puts everything into perspective.

Director: Sujeeth Cast: Sharwanand, Sampath Raj, Adivi Sesh, V. Jayaprakash, Seerat Kapoor Storyline: A long-drawn revenge story Bottomline: Run as fast you can

Unfortunately for the audience this twist doesn’t come about until the last 15 minutes of the movie. Until then they are left to their own devices to try and figure out where exactly the film is headed. While the first half of the film can be irksome with its pointless drama, the sequences just before the interval promise a more interesting storyline. However, that doesn’t happen. The wait is just too long.

What seem to be attempts at humour just end up being crass and forced. However, things do pick up towards the climax and all the pointless sequences seem to fall into place. It is with this twist that the film finally becomes interesting. But one can’t help but wonder if the twist comes too late to salvage the film.

This is not to say that the actors did a bad job. Sharwanand as Raja does a good job and has good screen presence. Newcomer Seerat Kapoor does justice to her role, while Adivi Sesh as the surprise package gives no reasons to complain. Sampath Raj and V. Jayaprakash provide able support. Music by Ghibran is pleasant.

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