Film: Pataki
Cast: Ganesh,Sai Kumar,Ranya Rao,Priyankar Thimeesh
Director: Manju Swaraj
Rating : 3/5
When you get a readymade, blockbuster script in hand, there is a certain comfort that comes with it, and improvising on that script can be tedious and sometimes, unecessary. Director Manju Swaraj dealt with these issues while remaking Telugu hit, Pataas. But what makes up for his lack of ingenuity is Ganesh and Sai Kumar’s acting.
Taking a look at the life of a police officer and exploring the difficulties of being in law enforcement, the duo bring life to the Kannada version of the Telugu film.
ACP Surya (Ganesh), a corrupt IPS officer, is transferred from Hubballi to Bengaluru. Agni (Sai Kumar), who serves as the DGP, is unaware that Surya is his son. The latter joins the enforcement only to take revenge on his father. How does the father react when he gets to know that Surya is his son, and will he be able to convince his situation as a police officer is one part of the story. But the change that comes in Surya is when a deaf-mute social worker shakes him up and makes him revolt against corrupt politicians. Will Surya be successful in bringing down the politicians and as a police officer what kind of sacrifices he goes through makes for a perfect mass flick.
Ganesh and senior actor Sai Kumar’s acting is what really holds the film together, bringing in the same level of curiosity that audiences felt when watching the original.
Ganesh, the epitome of romantic heroes, convincingly carries off the cop role, while also entertaining at the same time. He even strikes an emotional chord when enacting the father-son relationship.
Sai Kumar, who is known for such roles, makes it look like a cakewalk. Moreover, he was also part of the original film and was well aware of its content and nuances.
Ranya Rao makes her appearance with on-and-off dialogues as a reporter, and also pulls off the glam look in songs. While Sadhu Kokila adds to the comical elements of the film, it is Priyanka
Thimeesh’s scenes that bring about the much-needed twists, making her a pivotal character. Ashish Vidyavarthi does not come out strong as a villain, and the rest of the characters also lack punch. Arjun Janya’s music is mediocre, and so is Venkatesh Anguraj’s cinematography.
This is a film that caters to a wide range of people, but is a one-time watch. A film like Pataki is sure to make Ganesh confident about taking on more adventurous roles.