My take on Leader & why it works for me.
Finally, I managed to watch Leader amongst movie-goers in the theatre. Its my first viewing. I like the film on the whole. Even the greatest of classics are not flawless, so is this film. This article is not intended to point the flaws too. Nor give suggestions to the filmmakers – most of them in the industry are more accomplished then me in filmmaking. I just want to point out what worked for me in the film as a movie-buff. And also congratulate Shekar Kammula, Rana and AVM on making a good film.
Eliminating corruption impossible : Many idealistic movies are made, where hero is able to eliminate corruption completely (Tagore, Oke Okkadu, Gentleman). While I love those movies, age and experience taught me that they’re not possible in real life. It’s imbibed in the system at every level. The hero though starts at an idealistic note, later is willing to adapt. He agrees to drop cases against MLAs, so that they agree to the anti-corruption bill. The logic – even if you cant eliminate corruption totality, reduce it to as much as possible.
The contribution of beaurocracy : In a lot of the movies we see, its always shown that only political leaders run the state. While they are the ones who rule, the beaurocracy like IAS, collectors and police chiefs are the invisible hands most don’t see. They advice politicians on policies implement his vision and make his job easier with their intelligence and efficiency. In this movie they are shown as an integral part of the government. Their relation is more like a CEO and mid-level staff. Good top-level execs alone aren’t enough for him to implement his vision.
Hero’s acceptance of defeat : Realizing that ‘situations’ are forcing him to become like any other politician he accepts defeat and resigns from his post as a Chief Minister. Again this is idealistic, but in commercial cinema we cannot end it like that. It will give a wrong message that the system cannot be changed. The climax portion was convincing in cinematic terms.
Hero’s helplessness in delivering justice : I think this whole episode was handled fantastically. The hero knows he has no option but to let go a rapist to remain in power. The confrontation between Rana and the bailed rapist is brilliant. His confession of helplessness to the rape victim’s father and the father’s dialogs expressing mistrust in politicians is hard-hitting. Kudos!
Maa Telugu thalliki Mallepoo dhanda : I think it’s a noble idea to use this song as a background score. It gave me the goosebumps. The song is so relevant to our state in today’s time which reminds that despite differences between us, we’re all Telugu.
Further viewing : Political thrillers is a genre that appeals to me. Some films are realistic, some cinematic. I would like to mention some lesser known films instead of popular ones. I am sure there are many movies in other languages I am not aware of. Tell about them in the comments section and I shall include it.
1) Operation Duryodhana – Made on a shoe-string budget, this movie is a satire. Most populist films show politicians at corrupt and public as innocent. But this film shows that the public is also at fault.
2) Tamizhan (tamil film) – This Vijay and Priyanka Chopra starrer is a must-watch for genre fans. Its about a law graduate who educates the common man on how the people of power suppress them wrongly as they don’t know how law works and what are the rights they’re entitled to.
3) Saamanyudu – A more cinematic, than realistic film. Its about an editor who blackmails a corrupt home-minister into doing good things and finally turning a good man. A good watch, none the less.
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20 Comments to “My take on Leader & why it works for me.”
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Hey Himalay,
Iruvar was a biopic and it is not something that works for 20th century world. The movie was about 3 political figures and their lives. The review Sirish gave above it about the movies projecting current political scenario.
Sirish,
Good one.
Yes it is a sincere attempt from a sincere person about contemporary politics. This is more of a practical movie compared with the likes of Shankar’s Gentleman, OkeOkkadu, Bharateeyudu which belong to the same genre.
I liked Operation Duryodhana also just because that the point Posani talks in the movie is the only and the best solution for Indian society. Unless people change, society will not change.
Sekhar Kammula dealt the movie other way around. Unless Leaders change, society will not change which is very unlikely keeping in mind how the contemporary politics are heading towards. Forget about becoming better Leaders they are worsening the situation.
Talking about website reviews about Leader movie. Asusual website reviewers play a spoilsport just like they did with Arya2. Reviews say that the whole romantic thread is unnecessary in the movie. Assume if Sekhar Kammula hadn’t had inserted a romantic thread in the movie and had dealt completely with the political drama then Reviewers would have told that the Glamour quotient in the movie is missing so its difficult to pull crowd to the theatre. Thats precisely why I feel that Reviews are never a benchmark to measure movie success. Reviews nowadays have become more of a personal opinion than a “thought process” with a whole motive of degrading the commercial success of the movie.
Just for some fun I would like to draw an analogy about what would have happened if website reviewers existed in 1950 and 1960 era.
For example if you imagine that website reviewers penning their opinion on ANR’s classic blockbuster Devdas
1. Narration of the movie is slow and it can hardly get any response in B and C centres
2. Hero dies in the climax of the movie. Need to wait and see how the response would be from Andhra cine goers who generally doesn’t digest a tragic ending.
3. Being such a Big hero, ANR shouldn’t have accepted such movies where he simply ends his life for a girl.This will create a wrong impact on present generation youth. Life is more than losing your love…Blah Blah Blah
4. ANR from now onwards should accept characters which will motivate the youth and should become a youth icon..Blah Blah
and the finally the rating would have said
2.5 / 5.
The commercial success of the movie depends on how B and C centres accept the movie
Thx,
Venkat
Hi Sirish,
Appreciate you that you are much more open/frank(in the blog) than anybody in the telugu film industry!!
Leader from an audience view : Its’s a nice movie with lot of good points/dialouges, but nothing like great movie(political) watched feeling at the end!! That too good feel was missing!!
My view considering technical aspects: It is a very average movie but with a good concept. Movies on political system and corruption were already made from long time. The screenplay was like typical shekar kammula’s simple(feel good) movies which doesn’t(less chances) work out for a concept like this!! I felt like it can be made much better.
-Ravichandra
I liked the review, and it is the one of the best movies of what I had seen so far.
Hi Sirish,
I was waiting for your take on Leader… Thank u very much… Ur thoughts are very realistic and true… I stay in bangalore.. All my fens really liked the movie… I heard many of ma frens telling dat the movie was very meaningful… This is not what i hear regularly… Maa telugu talliki is superb… Even ma frens who speak kannada , liked the song.. And heroes acceptance of defeat is very realistic…
Relly so nice of u sirish. U always enlighten me how the film industry works.
Sirish,
Good Review…
The best part of the film are Sekhar kammula , Music and ofcoursde KOTA. They did marvelous job. Its true that the pace of the movie gone in the second half with the lkove episode but its logical though.
The unclear point in the whole film is why there are two heroins….When some one takes the film with such sincerity they shouldnt compromise at any given point of time…This is what i feel
KUDOS to U tooo sirish… U are doing amazing job in telugu industry…Hope everything goes well and ALL is Well…
Cheers,
Aditya
Leader is nice movie. The director is not 100% succeeded. He is kinda narrowed it. He could have handled it broader. The movie doesnt show the money spent (14 CR). Oke Okkadu is the perfect example on how a movie can be made on politics.
Thanks
Kumar
I agree with you guys that the reviewers were unnecessarily bashing the movie. If you look at the number of good movies that release each year there are hardly 3 or 4.
Jeevi has become self indulgent and very conscious of what people might think if him as a reviewer. What I mean to say is he is trying to someone else who he think people have some expectations and he is trying to be that guy.
When he originally started reviewing he used to genuinely write what he thought, but now I think he has gone into a shell and writes what a ‘great reviewer’ he thinks might write.
For example if you look at Magadheera it deserves 4.5 or 5/5 . Its one of a kind telugu movie and reached frontiers which were alien before.
Even Leader according to me is a good to great movie though there are some flaws like main heroine thread beginning only from 2nd half, 2nd heroine not having a proper characterisation and the biggest mistake out of all to me is elevating hero right from 1st half.
Hi Sirish / Venkat (one of the reply),
Good review.
I think Shekar’s biggest challenge for the movie is to resemble each character directly or indirectly of a person in politics (both current and politics). And make a movie of his view.
Venkat said is correct that eliminating love scenes misses women audience. Which he added, and got the review right both by Sirish and Venkat.
I noticed …
- Like Happy days is for Engineering Students, same formula for Leader (for existing politics).
- Suhasini – resemblance of Sonia Gandhi, Jayalalitha.
- Kota Srinivas Rao – Bal Thackery, Deve Gowda.
- Subbaraju – Family bandwagon – Stalin son of Karunanidhi, Deve Gowda son Kumaraswamy.
- Ahuti Prasad – CBN Story – Jumping from Congress to TDP
- Rao Ramesh – Similar to PV Narasimha Rao close aid …
Present/Past political situations
- Dropping the power – power sharing in Karnataka
- 1 Lakh Crores – AP budget, Jala (gala) Yagnam
and many more
I say, that he used PEOPLE who are well known as Characters and present/past political situations in his movie. (just like many engineering students thought in Happy Days). For those, who don’t know any, they get to see as complete Political drama without knowing characters.
Hats off to “Maa Telugu Talli” Song!
Great thought! Will people change little bit?
Regards,
Allu,
I agree with your comments on Leader. I am also trying to institutionalise opinions on professionalising Tollywood and have my own SMS format review which goes to quite a few! I reviewed Leader too (booksmoviesandwhatever.blogspot.com) and we seem to pick the same bones, albeit differently.
Cheers, Sri