“Swag” Movie Review: A Creative Concept Marred by Confusion – Sri Vishnu’s Latest Telugu Film
The much-anticipated Telugu film “Swag” arrives in theaters with a runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes. This marks the second collaboration between director Hahseeth Kohli, hero Sri Vishnu, and music director Vivek Sagar, following their previous venture, “RajRaja Chora.” The reviewer, having thoroughly enjoyed “RajRaja Chora,” approached “Swag” with high expectations.
A Fresh Message in Tollywood
“Swag” stands out amidst routine storylines prevalent in cinema for years, often prioritizing business over unique narratives. Director Hahseeth Kohli deserves appreciation for bringing a fresh, different film to Tollywood, particularly for its gender-oriented message. The movie delves into gender politics and relationships, presenting them as puzzle-like connections, encouraging viewers to explore these themes.
Sri Vishnu’s Expansive Role and Performance
Hero Sri Vishnu takes on multiple characters in “Swag,” offering a “never-before-seen” portrayal. This film provides him with the biggest scope in his career to prove his versatility and acting prowess, a fact the director utilized effectively. The reviewer hints that the depth of this statement will become clear upon watching the second half. Among his various roles and different looks, his performance in the old getup as ‘Bahubhuti’ and an important role in the second half were particularly impressive, feeling distinct from his usual acting style. Sri Vishnu’s performance overall makes “Swag” a significant film in his career from a performance perspective.
Creative Yet Confusing Presentation
While “Swag” boasts a creative concept, the overall viewing experience left the reviewer with mixed feelings due to “too many confusions.” The film might appeal to a “selected audience” but is not a universally appealing movie. It might fare well with “A-center” audiences, but could struggle in “B-C centers.” The second half, which incorporates drama and a flashback narrative in a more straightforward manner, offered some relief compared to the first half. The reviewer draws a parallel to Vikram’s “Cobra” movie, noting how a good concept can be overshadowed by confusion.
The Storyline: A Dynasty’s Riddle
Without giving away spoilers, the basic storyline revolves around the “Swaganika Dynasty.” The plot explores who the heirs to this lineage are, how information is sent to each individual through letters, and ultimately, who inherits the property.
Plus Points of “Swag”
Several aspects of “Swag” stood out positively. Sri Vishnu’s performance in multiple characters with different looks is a major highlight. Actresses Ritu Varma and Meera Jasmine delivered good performances within their respective roles. The underlying idea of the “family tree” around which the story is written is creative, and some message-oriented scenes, especially those involving a special role in the second half and the climax, were well-executed. Limited comedy scenes also worked effectively. The cinematography is good, and while one or two songs by Vivek Sagar are decent, the background music is particularly commendable.
Minus Points and Sources of Confusion
Despite its creative premise, “Swag” suffers from significant drawbacks, primarily its “confusing presentation.” Even towards the film’s conclusion, despite some clarity, it remains largely confusing. The creative idea of the family tree becomes overly complicated, making it difficult for all audiences to easily understand and follow. The movie presents numerous situations where viewers are left asking, “Why did this happen?” – situations that are only slowly unlocked in the second half.
The first half, in particular, contributes to this confusion by not fully revealing key information from the outset, leading to constant guessing by the audience. As new roles are introduced one by one, viewers are left to speculate about their connections to the 1970 flashback shown at the beginning. This constant cycle of guessing prevented the reviewer from fully enjoying the film. Additionally, characters like Sunil and Daksha Nagarkar have “very, very little screen time,” and Ravi Babu is also perceived as underutilized. The main minus point mentioned specifically from the teaser and trailer is the “Singaro Singar” element.
Final Verdict and Rating
“Swag” has a creative idea but is ultimately hindered by its “confusing presentation.” If you are an audience member who enjoys trying out “different films,” then “Swag” might be worth a watch. Based on the reviewer’s opinion, “Swag” receives a rating of 2.75 out of 5.
