What’s it about?
An article written by a journalist (Anupama Parameswaran) about the cultivation of rare and high-quality cotton in a village in Andhra Pradesh has caught the attention of Indian government officials. This compels the journalist to gather further information about the person responsible for operating the cotton factory, prompting her to travel to Madanapalli.
The individual in question is Sahadev (Ravi Teja), who has either absconded from the location or dead subsequent to causing widespread mayhem during the Margashira night.
As the journalist does further investigation on Sahadev, gathering information from multiple individuals familiar with him, she uncovers an authentic portrayal of Sahadev. This sheds light on why the mere mention of his name raises concerns among government authorities, as well as the reasons behind the villagers’ continued cultivation of that uncommon cotton.
Analysis
In his promotional interviews, Karthik Ghattamaneni, the director of “Eagle”, stated that he wrote the screenplay in a manner similar to the film “Virumaandi” directed by Kamal Haasan. The screenplay of “Virumaandi” was derived from the Rashomon effect. I was excited by this prior to entering the theater.
The Rashomon effect is a narrative technique in film where an event is presented with conflicting interpretations or descriptions from the people involved, thereby offering diverse perspectives and viewpoints on the same events. However, to my disappointment, I realized during the intermission that either Karthik Ghattamaneni was not familiar with the concept of the “Rashomon effect” or he did not fully comprehend the true essence of the film “Virumaandi”.
In fact, “Eagle” is merely another derivative of the several contemporary action thrillers that have emerged in Indian cinema, drawing inspiration from the “KGF” film series.
The majority of contemporary directors have transformed into what may be described as “buildup babais,” to borrow a phrase from the comedy show “Jabardasth.” This implies that they channel their creative efforts towards crafting written or filmed sequences that elevate the hero’s character. Every scene is set up to highlight heroism.
The whole stretch of the first half of the film tests our patience as it is a series of many “buildup” sequences than nothing else. Initially, it looks okay but it becomes redundant and tedious after a point.
As expected, the hero’s true story and flashbacks are revealed in the second half, establishing the film’s core message against gun culture. This part is fairly better than the first half.
However, the film ends up being more of a collection of action episodes, with logic taking a back seat.
Even the dialogue seems ridiculous. Dialogues such as “Margashira Madhya Ratri Aa Mondi Motubari Chesina”, “Visham Mingutanu, Vishwam Avutanu Kaapala Avutanu Nenu”, “Ayudham Tho Vidwansham Chesevadu Rakshasudu Vidwansham Apevadu Devudu”, and so on, appear to be the writer’s attempt to be “poetic” rather than purposeful.
At one point, I felt sorry for the producer, who had invested a lot of money to make the film rich and grand, but the directed wasted all of those resources on the action episodes.
Ravi Teja plays the character fiercely. His appearance is distinctive and unique. As Sahadev, his performance is excellent. Anupama Parameswaran’s only work is to gather information about the hero. Kavya Thapar has a short runtime, but she makes an impression. Navdeep is okay.
The film has high production qualities and is technically sound, but the writing by the filmmaker falls short.
Bottom line: “Eagle” is another action movie that prioritizes “grand action sequences” over the story, emotion, and tight narration. Despite its positive message and rich looks and frames, the film makes a tedious watch.
Rating: 2.5/5
By Jalapathy Gudelli
Film: Eagle
Cast: Ravi Teja, Anupama Parameshwaran, Kavya Thapar, Navdeep, Srinivas Avasarala, Madhubala, Ajay Ghosh and others
Music: Davzand
Director of Photography: Karthik Gattamneni, Karm Chawla, Kamil Plocki
Action: Ram Laxman, Real Sathish & Tomek
Producer: T.G Vishwa Prasad
Co-producer: Vivek Kuchibhotla
Edited, Written and Directed by: Karthik Gattamneni
Release Date: Feb 09, 2024
