Title: Custody
CBFC Rating: UA
Run-Time: 2 Hrs 28 Mins
Release Date: 12-05-2023
Banner: Srinivasaa Silver Screen
Cast: Naga Chaitanya, Krithi Shetty, Sarath Kumar, Priyamani, Aravind Swamy, Vennela Kishore, and Others
Music: Illaiyaraja, Yuvan Shankar Raja
Cinematography: SR Kathir, Sumer Verma
Editor: Venkat Rajen
Dialogues: Abburi Ravi
Producer: Srinivasaa Chitturi
Written & Directed By: Venkat Prabhu
Naga Chaitanya for the first time in his career did a bilingual film Custody in Telugu and Tamil languages. Venkat Prabhu known for delivering superhit thrillers directed this film. Krithi Shetty is seen as a female lead while Aravind Swamy, Priyamani, and Sharath Kumar played other key roles. Srinivasaa Chitturi produced the film under the Srinivasaa Silver Screen banner while Pavan Kumar presented it. The film released in Theatres on 12th May. Let’s check out the review.
Story:
A. Shiva (Naga Chaitanya) a sincere constable who even halts a Chief Minister’s (Priyamani) convoy to pass an ambulance. He has been in love with Revathi (Krithi Shetty) since childhood and they both wanted to marry. One fateful night he crosses paths with Raju (Aravind Swamy) and George (Sampath Raj). Shiva sets on a journey with Raju and finds himself in a dreadful situation. He is caught in the crossfire between the CBI and Mafia. His ve Revathi also happens to join his journey with Raju. What happens that night ? How did he overcome it ? forms the story of Custody
Performances:
As an honest police, Naga Chaitanya delivers a very good performance and he looks apt in the role. He moulded his body language and shed weight to fit in his character. His best efforts are visible to carry the film forward. He did very well in action scenes, especially in a police station fight.
Aravind Swamy suits the role and the comedy touch given to his character worked well. Scenes between him, Krithi Shetty, and Naga Chaitanya are very good. Krithi Shetty did well in her role. Priyamani carried her role decently. Goparaju Ramana and Vennela Kishore evoke laughs.
Highlights:
Naga Chaitanya
Casting
Music
Action Sequences
Drawbacks:
Slow Pace At Times
Repetitive Scenes
Analysis:
Director Venkat Prabhu is known for making slick action films. He has chosen a story that falls in his genre for Custody and Naga Chaitanya has put in all his efforts to make it work. In fact, it is Chaitanya who holds the film after a point with his earnest act. The first half takes ample time to establish Shiva’s world and his life in 90s. But, with Raju entering the scene, the film takes a quick route and things get racy towards the interval.
The second half begins with the backstory of the Shiva family. Then the film goes on with the rogue cops chasing Raju. The pace of happenings onscreen dips e and there but maintains the tension under currently. Another good aspect is perfect casting. A number of reputed artists have been cast in all key roles. It is a tough job to carry the wafer-thin plot till the end engagingly. But, Naga Chaitanya with his screen presence, and Venkat Prabhu with a neat screenplay managed to pull it off.
The music and BGM by Illaiyaraja and Yuvan Shankar Raja is neat. The cinematography by SR Kathir is impressive. Dialogues by Abburi Ravi are good. Production Values by Producer Srinivasaa Chitturi are grand.
Rating: 3 / 5
Bottom-line: Naga Chaitanya’s One-Man Show – Custody
