Cast: Sai Dharam Tej, Rakul Preet Singh, Jagapathi Babu, Thakur Anoop Singh, Mukesh Rishi, Ali, Vennela Kishore, Prithvi, Anasuya
Banner: Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Productions
Story: Veligonda Srinivas
Music: S Thaman
Cinematography: Chota K Naidu
Editor: Prawin Pudi
Dialogue Writers: Abburi Ravi & Sreedhar Seepana
Producers: Nallamalapu Bujji & Tagore Madhu
Screenplay-Director: Gopichand Malineni
A routine Telugu commercial cinema set in Bengaluru Race Course
Winner Plot:
Mahender Reddy (Jagapathi Babu) and his little son Siddhu (Sai Dharam Tej) experience a rift due to a ploy by his father Dharmendra (Mukesh Rishi). As a result Siddhu absconds from home only to grow into an independent and dynamic young man Siddharth Reddy, the CEO of Newlook news daily. The young charmer falls in love with Sitara (Rakul Preet Singh) but eventually ends up ruining her dreams. Dejected Sitara inadvertently pulls him into an unchancy horse race challenge with her fiancée and unprecedented jockey Aadhi (Thakur Anoop Singh). How did Siddhu train up in what he hates (Racing) and win his love and long lost father forms the rest of the story.
Performances:
Sai Dharam Tej: Yes! He is full of vigor and impressive zeal to be a mass hero. But it is something even his icons Megastar and Powerstar earned with versatile films. This Supreme hero did not showcase anything fresh and impressive in this film except some routine stuff in which his cousins are in a way frontrunners.
By the way, we are not sure what’s wrong with his onscreen chemistry with his heroine?
Rakul Preet Singh: She is extra gorgeous in this film – due credits to her glamor, the stylist and the cinematographer as well. You might even wonder why our commercial Telugu heroine is having dreams/aspirations and talking some sense but the second half ensures it is fixed at the earliest.
Thakur Anoop Singh: Some build up shots, couple of scenes confronting the hero, few dialogues and a final race to lose and a fight sequence to eat some blows – looks like our perfect villain right? This fledgling actor fits the bill. One more fresh talent wasted!
Mukesh Rishi: Kudos to this gentleman who survived in the industry doing the same from a long while. Anyways he’s got some brain to think and job to do in this script – we’re glad!
However, Vennela Kishore (as Padma), 30yrs industry Prithvi (as Singham Sujatha) & Ali (As Horseman Babu alias Peter Heins) are sheer entertainers. Their comedy tracks work big time for the film– Bithiri Saththi’s cameo is worth mentioning.
Winner Analysis:
In our mainstream Telugu commercial space, it’s the outer appeal that usually changes - the formulae remain the same. Winner proves this popular belief.
This film has everything– an intro fight, a special song by an unusual face, a new villain, a glamorous heroine, a young hero desperately trying to be an all-rounder and the newfound ‘father-son’ sentiment.
If you are well-immune to all the above, then Winner is a cake-walk. However, what saves the film is the engaging first half and its comedy. With a sidekick like Vennela Kishore, Sai Dharam Tej manages to pull off his boring love track (that is full of songs than love). 30yrs Industry Prithvi as ‘Singham Sujatha’ is a blessing in disguise here. On a frank note, the pre-interval segment has a decent twist that keeps you look forward to the second half with a hopeful face. The second half starts collapsing from the word go and Ali (as Horseman Babu alias Peter Heins) steps in as expected. After finishing the balance quota of punch dialogues, songs, the much hyped horse-race (which eventually falls flat) and some over-acting at the climax, we are off for the day recalling nothing but the first half comedy.
Merits:
- The horse-race backdrop of the plot which was not properly exploited.
- Comedy in the first half.
- Rakul Preet’s glamor
- Cinematography
- Music
De-merits:
- Uninteresting story, screenplay and treatment.
Music:
Thaman’s effort to keep the album mainstream yet versatile is quite evident. Songs are enjoyable and well-picturized too. On other hand, the background score fails to leave an impact.
Others:
Eye-candy Anasuya made sure that she made hearts skip a beat with her special song Suya Suya. However, thumbs down to Anasuya-Teju chemistry.
Winner Verdict:
Winner is a routine Telugu commercial film set in a horse-race backdrop. Though the first half is entertaining, the bottom fell out in the second half. Might be a box-office 'Winner' but guess who’s the real ‘Winner’? – COMEDY!
Winner Avg User Rating: 2.75/5
- Reviewed by SriRaam Chelluri
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