Story
Pallavi (Nivetha Thomas) and her friends (Anjali & Ananya Nagalla) visit a resort along with a few guys they just met. In the process, Vamsi (son of a politician) tries to molest Pallavi. She hits him with a bottle in self-defence. As the case get complicated, Pallavi is arrested for an attempt to murder. Her friends plead their neighbor Vakeel Saab who is on the sabbatical to up the case. Rest of the story is all about how Vakeel Saab represents these women in the court and wins the battle.
Artists Performance
Pawan Kalyan is excellent as a lawyer who comes out of sabbatical for a cause. His screen presence is powerful when he argues in the court. He looks good/apt in all episodes involving beard (heavy beard before taking up the case and light beard after taking it up). His scenes in the combination of Prakash Raj are excellent. Prakash Raj is great as a lawyer who pleads for the wrong guy. Shruti Haasan has a limited role. Nivetha Thomas is exceptionally good as a victim and shows that vulnerability and helplessness with her acting. Anjali and Ananya Nagalla did justify their roles. All others are cast well.
Technical departments
Story - screenplay - direction: Vakeel Saab is an official remake of Bollywood film ‘Pink’. The director Sriram Venu has kept the story intact, but changed the characterization to suit the off-screen image of Pawan Kalyan (as a politician/activist). He has also added a flashback as a justification for the sabbatical of the hero. The important parts of the film are shot well, especially a couple of emotionally charged courtroom scenes which are dominated by Pawan Kalyan with his towering presence. However, the flashback is not written well. It neither goes well with the story nor evokes emotion. The purpose of this film is more about justice to the women victims, not about what happened to Vakeel Saab in the past.
Other departments: There are several songs in the film and Thaman has composed good songs. Maguva Maguva song stands out. Background music is very good. Cinematography by PS Vinodh is very good. Production design by Rajeevan is decent. Dialogues by Mamidala Thirupathi are worth a mention. He penned some dialogues in such a way that they elevated Pawan Kalyan’s real personality. Lyrics by Rama Jogaiah Sastri and Suddala Ashok Teja are meaningful. Fight sequences composed by Ravi Verma are good. Editing by Prawin Pudi is alright. Production values by Sri Venkateswara Creations are good.
Analysis: The initial episode and pre-interval episodes evoke empathy towards the girl victims. Courtroom drama in the second half is well-handled. Pawan Kalyan’s off-screen image and his personal attitude is well used in designing Vakeel Saab characterization. The dialogues are also written to suit his personal character. A few action blocks are designed to cater to masses and Pawan Kalyan’s fans. However, the flashback episode which occupies a considerable part of the first half is a let down. On a whole, Vakeel Saab is a meaningful message oriented film that caters to classes and well as masses.
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