Kabzaa Movie Review: A Riveting Tale of Power, Crime, and Romance

Kabzaa, a period action film directed by P Chandru and starring Upendra and Shriya Saran, has been released today. Kiccha Sudeepa and Shiva Rajkumar have played important cameo roles in the film. Originally made in Kannada, Kabzaa has also been dubbed into other Indian languages. Let's see how the film has turned out.

Story

The story of Kabzaa revolves around Arkeshwara (Upendra), an Indian Air Force officer who comes from a family of freedom fighters. He falls in love with Madhumathi (Shriya Saran), an affluent girl, and they plan to get married. However, there are a group of dangerous gangsters and power-hungry politicians in Amarapura. In an unexpected turn of events, Arkeshwara enters the crime world and rises to become a kingpin. The story delves into how this transformation affects his life.

Analysis

Kabzaa is a recently released period action film directed by P Chandru, starring Upendra and Shriya Saran in the lead roles, with Kiccha Sudeepa and Shiva Rajkumar in cameo appearances. The film, originally shot in Kannada, has been dubbed into other Indian languages.

The story follows Arkeshwara, an Indian Air Force officer who comes from a family of freedom fighters. He falls in love with Madhumathi, an affluent girl, and they plan to get married. Meanwhile, a group of dangerous gangsters and power-hungry politicians in Amarapura pose a threat. In a surprising twist, Arkeshwara enters the world of crime and ultimately becomes a king. The film revolves around how this transformation changes Arkeshwara's life.

The cinematography of Kabzaa is impressive, and the bygone era has been depicted very well. Upendra delivers a noteworthy performance, and his screen presence is striking, especially in action sequences. The cameos by Kiccha Sudeepa and Shiva Rajkumar provide some relief, despite being brief. The action sequences are well choreographed, and the interval scene is decent.

However, the film's biggest issue is its resemblance to the trendsetting movie KGF. The lack of originality in Kabzaa is evident in its story, narration, and dialogues, which seem identical to KGF. Even the voiceover that moves the story forward is almost identical to KGF. The overuse of certain effects, such as a blackout effect, makes the film unbearable at times. The film's emotional depth is lacking, and the love track between the lead pair is uninteresting and tedious. The editing needed significant changes, and the Telugu dubbing was poor.

Overall, Kabzaa falls short of expectations and is a loud and boring period action drama. Despite Upendra's impressive acting and the commendable cinematography, the routine story, uninteresting narrative, and lack of emotions make it a disappointing film. The movie is dragged unnecessarily, and the announcement of a sequel only adds to the disappointment.

Performances

The lead actor Upendra delivered a good performance in Kabzaa, showcasing his skills in a stunning action avatar. Shriya Saran, who played the female lead, did a decent job, but her character lacked depth and emotion. The cameos by Kiccha Sudeepa and Shiva Rajkumar were noteworthy and provided some relief. However, due to the poorly written characters and weak dialogues, even the best actors couldn't make a significant impact.

Technicalities

In terms of technical aspects, Kabzaa boasts impressive production values. The period setting and the attention to detail in the costumes, sets, and props are commendable. The action sequences are well choreographed and executed, making them a treat for action lovers. The cinematography captures the grandeur and intensity of the film's world, and the music and background score add to the overall impact.

However, the film's pacing and editing could have been better. Some scenes feel dragged, and the transition between certain sequences seems abrupt, impacting the film's overall flow. The dubbing in languages other than Kannada is also a bit uneven, with some performances not syncing well with the lip movements.

Overall, while Kabzaa has its technical strengths, there are also areas for improvement that could have made the film more impactful.

Advantages

Strong Performances: The movie boasts a talented cast, including Upendra, Shriya Saran, Kiccha Sudeepa, and Shiva Rajkumar, who all deliver powerful performances.

Impressive Action Sequences: Kabzaa features well-choreographed action sequences that keep the audience engaged and entertained.

Stunning Visuals: The movie's cinematography and set design are top-notch, and the attention to detail in recreating the period setting is impressive.

Gripping Storyline: The movie's plot, which revolves around a man's rise to power in the crime world, is engaging and keeps the audience hooked.

Multi-lingual Release: The film was dubbed into multiple Indian languages, making it accessible to a wider audience.

Good Background Score: The movie features a well-crafted background score that enhances the viewing experience.

Good Direction: Director P. Chandru's vision is well-executed, and he has managed to extract excellent performances from his actors while maintaining the movie's pace and momentum.

Drawbacks

Lengthy runtime of over 3 hours.

Lack of proper character development for some of the supporting characters.

The film's plot is convoluted and confusing at times, making it hard to follow.

The dialogues in the movie are often clichéd and predictable.

The background score is loud and overpowering at times, drowning out the dialogues and action sequences.

Some of the action sequences feel repetitive and lack creativity.

The movie's depiction of violence and gore may not be suitable for all audiences.

The use of CGI and special effects in the movie could have been better.

The songs in the movie do not add much to the narrative and could have been avoided.

The dubbing of other language versions of the movie into Kannada is not seamless and may affect the viewing experience for Kannada-speaking audiences.