Soukhyam: Don’t go by the title

Regina Cassandra and Gopichand in the film

The makers of Soukhyam probably chose this title to rhyme with Gopichand’s earlier hit, Loukyam . If you look for any other reason, you’d draw a blank. Does it resonate with the efforts of the hero to keep his father happy? Or do the makers hope the audience leave the halls on a happy note? Maybe both. But a story and screenplay that offer nothing new bring no cheer. Soukhyam has all that’s considered essential for a box office success — a lead pair with good screen presence, romance, action and comedy and yet, it all ends up being bland.

Srinu (Gopichand) and Shailaja (Regina) fall in love during a train journey but soon, she is whisked away by her father’s henchmen. The father is (who else?) a don in Kolkata who wants his daughter to marry the chief minister’s son. Srinu’s father (Mukesh Rishi) wants his son to forget the episode and choose any girl from a violence-free family background.

Shailaja believes in destiny and it brings the two together, when the hero nearly becomes a pawn in the hands of another baddie. The thread of the hero realising he is a pawn and working his way out could have done with a few mind games. What you get, though, is stale comedy from Sapthagiri, Prudhvi and Krishna Bhagawan. Sapthagiri is chained in an asylum and wants to converse only with spirits. Prudhvi and Krishna Bhagawan are small time actors doing parodies of big hits like

Baahubali and

Srimanthudu . The circus that’s enacted is long drawn and dull.

By now, filmmakers have realised that Brahmanandam’s presence cannot salvage a mediocre script. But they don’t stop trying. Here, the man is introduced at the fag end. Apparently he cannot hear but since he is a film buff, one can sing and dance to him to convey messages. The supposedly menacing bad guys do exactly that in the climax.

There’s also Posani Murali Krishna doing his thing — talk incessantly. An item number is also thrown in.

The film plays up its leading man, to the extent of comparing him to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brad Pitt! There’s enough screen time for Gopichand to show his muscle power. In fact, the hero is indulged so much that at no point does the viewer feel he has an insurmountable task ahead of him.

Gopichand plays his part like a cool customer with a limited range of expressions. Regina is the film’s highlight, pulling off her role with grace and sincerity.

The much publicised role of Sowcar Janaki is just a cameo. The veteran appears briefly as a stylish granny with spunk.

Soukhyam is dull and doesn’t engage for the most part.

Soukhyam

Cast : Gopichand, Regina Cassandra

Direction : A.S. Ravi Kumar Chowdary

Music : Anup Rubens

Story line : Something that will give scope to pack in songs, dances, stunts and lame comedy.

Bottomline : ‘Soukhyam’ exists only in the title.