Title: A1 Express
CBFC Rating : U
Run-Time: 2 Hrs 18 Min
Release Date: 05-03-2021
Banner: Venkatadri Talkies, People Media, AA
Cast: Sundeep Kishan, Lavanya Tripathi, Priyadarshi, Rahul Ramakrishna, Murali Sharma, Rao Ramesh, and others
Music: Hip Hop Tamizha
Cinematography: Kavin Raj
Editing: Chota. K. Prasad
Producers: T. G. Vishwa Prasad, Abhishek Agarwal, Sundeep Kishan, Daya Pannem
Written and Directed by Dennis Jeevan Kanukolanu
Story:
A hockey playground is deemed the prime location for the construction of a corporate company with foreign investment. They lure the local sports minister Rao Ramesh (Rao Ramesh) with a proper deal to get the work done. The greedy minister plays his part by green signaling the project without consulting the locals.
How Sundeep Naidu (Sundeep Kishan), a non-local, arrives at his relative’s house in Yanam for a brief stay to go abroad, gets involved in the issue, and becomes the hero in the process is the basic story of the movie?
Performances:
Sundeep Kishan is in terrific form in A1 Express. He oozes charm in romantic portions and attitude and confidence in the heroic moments. The role offers him enough diversity to make use of his natural potential, and he more than lives up to it. The emotional scenes in the second half are sure to make people cry. It is one of the best starry’ acts for Sundeep Kishan.
Lavanya Tripathi playing the female lead is not given a typical heroine role. She has a strong personality, and it shows through the character and the act. The tough girl’s body language is well presented.
The key stars concerning the performances are Rao Ramesh and Murali Sharma. Both are terrific and bring an edge to the proceedings with their riveting, intense, and sincere acts.
Raghu Babu is a pleasant surprise. Sathya delivers the comedy needed in the narrative, which is supported well by Posani Krishna Murali. The rest of the actors are appropriate for their roles.
Highlights:
Sundeep Kishan
Grand Production Values
Rao Ramesh & Murali Sharma
Hockey Game
Drawbacks:
Lags a bit in parts
Analysis:
Dennis Jeevan Kanukolanu directs A1 Express. It is a sports drama with a mix of mass heroism for the lead character. The director does a fabulous job of getting the mixture right to elevate the proceedings.
The first half of the movie builds the core story and the romance properly without losing the balance. There is a smooth balance in the proceedings. The romance, the sport, and the political backdrop are all perfectly integrated into the narrative.
Slowly, the layers of the various threads are revealed, leading to a great interval when the hero’s true identity is out. It is sure to generate huge whistles when seen in theatres with a large crowd.
The second half takes an emotional route with the revelation of the flashback. The emotions and friendship between the three central characters are well brought out by the director. However, there is a little bit of lag here. But, it is necessary for the climax to work.
The whole climax featuring a hockey game with commentary by Suma and Viva Harsha is excellent. It ends the movie on a high. People come out with happy faces and the thrill of watching an exciting sports drama.
The music and the background score by Hip-hop Tamizha are superb. It is peppy and goosebumps-inducing. The cinematography by Kavin Raj is lively and bombastic. The colors are used extremely well. The editing by Chota K Prasad is slick. The producers deserve a pat on the back for backing a film with hockey as a central theme.
Rating: 3/5
Bottom-line: An Entertaining Mass Sports Drama
