Game Changer review: Ram Charan shoulders disappointing political thriller

Shankar’s storied career in Tamil cinema over the course of more than three decades has had some wild swings in both film craft and genre exploration.

His experimentations have however had recurring narrative trademarks, from larger-than-life vigilantism, biting commentary on systemic corruption and class disparity.

Small wonder, then, that his Telugu cinema debut, Game Changer, is packed with everything. It’s almost like a summary of the man and his work. In the film, cop-turned-administrative-officer Ram – played by RRR’s Ram Charan – crosses paths with corrupt politician Mopidevi (S J Suryah), whose hunger for power leads him on a desperate path, coveting the role of Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister at any cost.

Here’s the problem, though. The film feels less like a Shankar film and more like a Now-That’s-What-I-Call-Shankar's-Greatest-Hits playlist. From expensively shot musical numbers to one man being the solution to the root of all socioeconomic evils, it has been done before, and done better.

Want some vigilante action? Shankar’s 1993 feature film debut Gentleman, along with Indian (1996) and Anniyan (2005) have you covered. Power-hungry politicians? Take your pick between Mudhalavan (1999) or its Hindi-language remake Nayak (2001).

For some good old Shankar bombast, ambitious romcom Jeans (1998) and sci-fi action thriller Enthiran (2010) are a perfect balance of style and kitsch – and a rather decent way to spend a couple of hours.

Game Changer is basically a distillation of its writer-director’s most well-known tropes, but without much of the emotional pull. It’s a supercut of all of Shankar’s previous films that doesn't allow viewers to invest on an emotional level.

Not that there isn’t much to praise here. The musical numbers, in particular, boast phenomenal art direction. The massive set design and execution of Thaman’s groovy Jaragandi are reminders of the qualities Shankar has to pull off something wildly kitschy that can actually work. The action choreography is incredible, with each set piece packing a massive punch, and the film's cinematography by Tirru is stylish.

Towering over the few silver linings is the movie’s biggest trump card, Charan. He plays the dual role of an upstanding district collector and a political figure whose journey is similar to major Indian political protester Anna Hazare’s social work. He demands attention throughout the film’s 165-minute runtime and succeeds in holding it from the first second to the last.

Telugu superstar Ram Charan shoulders much of the film. Photo: Zee Studios

He’s also the reason the movie is remotely watchable in a sea of derivative storytelling choices and some technically unmitigated disasters, like the sound design, and often finds his way through the bumpiest of pathways.

He’s supported by a competent cast of character actors, from Suryah, the theatrical antagonist, to Srikanth, who plays the most morally dynamic character in the movie and is one of the best parts of it.

Game Changer

Director: Shankar

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

Bollywood actress Kiara Advani also has a part to play but, like a lot of Shankar’s films that feature women, she’s a love interest whose absence would not change a thing.

There’s enough to appreciate in Game Changer to reach the end. But this is not a Shankar cinematic gem. Only his actual game changers from the past 30 years fall into that category.

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Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Rating: 4.5/5

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GK: Alphonse Areola (youth academy)

Defence - RB: Dani Alves (free transfer); CB: Marquinhos (€31.4 million); CB: Thiago Silva (€42m); LB: Layvin Kurzawa (€23m)

Midfield - Angel di Maria (€47m); Adrien Rabiot (youth academy); Marco Verratti (€12m)

Forwards - Neymar (€222m); Edinson Cavani (€63m); Kylian Mbappe (initial: loan; to buy: €180m)

Total cost: €440.4m (€620.4m if Mbappe makes permanent move)

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The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.

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MATCH INFO

Watford 1 (Deulofeu 80' p)

Chelsea 2 (Abraham 5', Pulisic 55')

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Company profile

Date started: December 24, 2018

Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer

Based: Dubai Media City

Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)

Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech

Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year

Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler

Price, base / as tested Dh57,000

Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine

Transmission Six-speed gearbox

Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm

Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km

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