19 May 2022
Hyderabad

For veteran actor Rajasekhar a lot hinges on Shekar, which bows in screens this Friday. Pushed to the wall multiple times in his 28-year career, he always found ways to bounce back and prove his worth. Having staged one such comeback with PSV Garudavega in 2017 after he was almost written off, one expected him to consolidate on it and deliver hits in a row. But that didn’t happen, as his subsequent film, Kalki, couldn’t cut the mustard at the turnstiles. What did he do next? He waited. He waited for a story that suits his persona, body language and more importantly is in tune with the changing audiences taste. Like in many instances of his career, that story was not an original one. It came from Malayalam. It is whodunit Joseph, which won the appreciation of both critics and the audience alike when it released in 2018.

As he was about to have the cameras rolling, Covid-19 struck him and dealt a heavy blow. His condition worsened day by day but his fighting spirit, doctors’ treatment and prayers of his admirers and fans meant that he recovered in time. He later started Shekar. The developments leading up to the start of the film, however, weren’t a pleasant one as multiple directors like Karuna Kumar and Neelakanta couldn’t take it up due to their busy schedules after initially agreeing to call the shots. Later a rookie’s name was announced to helm it, but Jeevitha, who directed her husband in films like Seshu, Evadaithe Nakenti (co-directed) and Satyameva Jayathe, replaced him at the eleventh hour.

So what is Shekar all about? It narrates the tale of a retired cop (played by Rajasekhar) whose expertise in investigating crime scenes forces the department to seek his aid for difficult cases. While the rest of the plot seems to be shrouded in mystery as one expects from a trailer that belongs to the suspense thriller genre, Rajasekhar seems to be in his element, playing Sekhar with a subtlety that he is a pro at. The initial portions seem to bear the stamp of his style and swag but as his character is unraveled frame by frame, there seems to be many layers around him about his troubled life. With his real daughter Shivani playing his reel daughter, there will be an emotional connection which can resonate with his female fans.

Overall, the trailer might not be of highest quality but it sure seems to have substance that can keep the viewers glued to their seats. With Jeevitha and her team of writers tweaking the original to go well with the tastes of Telugu viewers, expect it to be racy with drama intact. Well, Rajasekhar might not be the same actor who has the power of yesteryears to pull in the masses in droves to the theatres; he sure has heft and acumen to take everyone by surprise. After all, when handed a good script and meaty role, he has always emerged triumphant, so did the box-office.