There are some films you reserve for future because the subject deserves viewing at leisure keepingin mind rave reviews it’s garnered but has sadly failed to ring the cash registers at the box-office. Ironically, we find this encouraging, indicating absence of typical ‘masala’ and mindless violence.
‘Srikanth’ (now on Netflix) finally got our nod late last evening and once we’d settled down, we were bowled over by the protagonist, who’s named by his father, after the India’s dasher of 1980’s Kris Srikanth, but there’s a huge blip for doting parents, new-born is congenitally visually impaired. In fact, our own flashback went to classic films like ‘Koshish’ and ‘Sparsh’ that deal with the odds, struggles & triumphs of the physically challenged.
We realise as the film progresses that the film’s ‘hero’ (completely blind &without vision) is gifted with mental, analytical faculties that are highly developed and has an entirely different approach in dealing with physical limitations, he exudes positivity & confidence in his abilities to overcome hurdles, almost like the Napoleonic idiom ‘nothing is impossible’. Life is cruel, atevery step obstacles emerge for him starting from a flawed higher education system not built to accept a visually impaired despite his merit.
Trying not to be a ‘spoiler’ but have to revealit’s a biopic on a truly amazing man,a self-made entrepreneur, industrialistanda motivational speaker called ‘Srikanth Bolla’. The film scores high on its single minded purity of purpose, cutting edge dialogues, scathing humour & undying faith in one’s ability to those overcome suchoddsthat normal people don’t ever face.
It’s tough not to compare with great past performances (Naseer in ‘Sparsh’ and Al Pacino in ‘Scent of a Woman’ – of strong characters who’re visually impaired) but actor Raj Kumar Rao excels in recreating a larger than life, fiercely strong willed man who shuns sympathy and charity for disability. He seeks equality in life &work opportunities and urges ‘at par’treatment.
Two of the other main actors stand out for effortless portrayals- Jyothika as the devoted ‘Teacher’ and Sharad Kelkar, theloyal business partner who ever stand by Shrikant like a rock.But a lovely cameo also comes from Jameel Khan (‘Gullak’ fame) as the great former President, Abdul Kalam.
The film may seem to drag a bit towards the second half but it makes up beautifully in the closing sequences to round off a soul-uplifting journey of struggle andhope of moving from darkness to ‘light’,that will inspire !
Working on Living 