When director Manju Mandavya decided to create a masterpiece out of his debut venture, he did not make small plans. So he kept his feet on the ground and let his imagination soar to ‘commercial’ heights. And with Masterpiece, he has hit the mark, even after having kept his aim a little above the target.
He has sliced the film in a technically balanced manner, keeping in mind expectations that come along with Yash’s current star status. In that sense, his dialogues have come handy. While the script has the essentials — a doting mother (Suhasini) who wants her son, the aggressive Yuva (Yash) to tread the path of righteousness like freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, a sidekick in Chikanna, a love interest in Shanvi Srivastava, a politician in Achyuth Kumar, and a drug mafia don in Ravi Shankar — it is the narrative and adept screenplay that makes every bit join together combining love, sentiments, action, with lyrics and dialogues.
Masterpiece also works because it has precisely calculated the enormity of Yash’s star status. Manju has studied the hero’s career graph well and taken the risk by weaving a story where he balances his heroism on theone hand, while trying to bring out a negative shade on the other.
In the mass entertainer, Yash paints an angry picture and strikes the right chord. Even though he knows the expectations from his fans, he chose to be in a role which will not disturb his image, but will be perceived as moving away from constancy. And he succeeds to an extent.
Chikkanna as a side kick steals the show as he weaves through the first half of the story.
Shanvi Srivastava adds that glam factor in the film. Suhasini emotes well while Achyuth Kumar and Ravi Shankar have justified their roles.
Peppy music by Harikrishna adds to the film’s richness and cinematography by Vaidy strengthens the narrative.
The obvious flaw in the film is the second half, which could have continued with the momentum built in the first half. But instead, it sways away to get into a cat and mouse chase scenario, slowly losing the intensity.
If success formula has been equated with commercial films, then this film is on target. With rich production qualities, Masterpiece is a definite commercial potboiler and could well go beyond the lofty heights expected out of it by Yash, the director and the producer.
This is a treat for Yash fans.