‘Shekar’ movie review: This Telugu film might invoke deja vu for those who have savoured the Malayalam original, ‘Joseph’

How a lot you might be more likely to get pleasure from Shekhar may be proportional as to if you may have watched its 2018 Malayalam authentic, Joseph, starring Joju George. Devoted, scene-by-scene remakes have misplaced their sheen within the OTT period when the originals can be found with subtitles. Nonetheless, should you haven’t watched Joseph, Shekar has an fascinating story to relate. A narrative that can also be a personality research of the protagonist. Director Jeevitha Rajashekar steers away from mainstream Telugu cinema trappings and stays true to what the story requires. She and the crew additionally deserve an appreciation for not making an attempt to vary the ending. 

Shekar is a household venture involving Dr Rajashekar, his spouse Jeevitha and daughter Shivani. But, it doesn’t get indulgent. The daddy-daughter parts get just a few extra minutes than within the authentic however with out tampering with the proceedings.

Jeevitha units the story within the idyllic Araku Valley. The unhurried, much less populated house befits the story. We see Dr Rajashekar as Shekar, a middle-aged loner who’s losing away his days within the firm of smoke and alcohol. An erstwhile cop, his crime-solving instincts stay sharp and intact. Against the law he solves within the opening minutes, delineating the how and who, befit the small-town setting and nearly has that Sherlock Holmes technique to it.

The story takes off when Shekar smells one thing fishy after his spouse’s dying and digs deeper, and realises that one other loss from the previous has additionally been murky.

The modus operandi of the crime will get unravelled within the second and third acts of the narrative. Earlier than that, there are different layers to peel. The non-linear narrative goes forwards and backwards to piece collectively what has made Shekar a brooding recluse. He carries the burden of the previous, consumed by guilt that he didn’t act in time to avoid wasting a cherished one; that in flip unsettles his house.

Within the current day, he shares an ideal equation along with his pals who at all times stand by him. The extra fascinating and subtly explored rapport is the one he has with Mallikarjun (Kishore in a restrained, efficient portrayal), his former spouse’s second husband. The quiet respect the 2 have for one another exhibits their inherent maturity. 

Shekar largely sticks to the beats of the unique, recreating digicam angles and even most of the dialogues. However in contrast to the unique, it doesn’t maintain intrigue since not all of the actors do justice to their elements. Whereas Dr Rajashekar places forth a honest efficiency because the middle-aged man, the throwback to his youthful days might have been dealt with higher. Older actors making an attempt to seem younger is at all times a tricky act. Within the case of Aathmeeya Rajan (because the spouse Indu), the reverse is true. Whereas she will carry off the youthful parts with ease, her make-up for the older half isn’t efficient. 

The romance parts between Muskaan and Rajashekhar additionally stick out like a sore thumb, with a music thrown in. The songs that punctuate the narrative additional decelerate the languidly paced movie. 

Shekar is a detour from the norm for Telugu cinema and is an earnest try. If solely it had extra spark within the performances and higher music.