The
much-loved
Nani,
last
seen
in
the
critically
acclaimed
Jersey,
is
back
with
his
latest
release
Gang
Leader,
which
hit
screens
today
(September
13,
2019).
The
film,
directed
by
Vikram
Kumar,
features
Tollywood's
'Natural
Star'
in
a
brand
new
avatar,
which
has
created
a
great
deal
of
buzz
amongst
movie
buffs
for
all
the
right
reasons.
The
film
has
also
grabbed
plenty
of
attention
due
to
its
quirky
trailer
and
unique
concept,
which
has
raised
expectations
big
time.
So,
did
Gang
Leader
live
up
to
expectations?
Plot
Gang
leader
revolves
around
the
exploits
of
a
young
writer,
who
helps
five
spirited
ladies
take
down
a
'common
target'
and
complete
a
mission.
Screenplay
And
Direction
Gang
leader
strikes
a
chord
with
the
target
audience
due
to
its
refreshing
storyline
and
intelligent
presentation.
The
opening
sequence
is
quite
compelling
and
makes
for
a
solid
impact.
While
the
rest
of
the
first
half
is
not
as
good
as
expected,
it
manages
to
entertain
nonetheless.
Things
pick
up
big
time
in
the
second
half
because
of
the
cleverly
executed
twists
and
turns.
In
many
ways,
the
'real
fun'
begins
after
the
interval.
The
climax,
however,
is
a
big
let
down
as
it
comes
across
as
a
bit
abrupt
and
forced.
The
other
big
problem
is
that,
unlike
Manam,
Gang
Leader
does
not
have
an
emotional
connect,
which
might
upset
a
certain
section
of
the
audience.
Performances
Nani
is
quite
good
and
impresses
all
and
sundry
with
his
comic
timing.
RX
100
star
Karthikeya
too
manages
to
make
an
impact
while
showcasing
his
range
as
a
performer.
His
solid
physique
enhances
the
impact
of
his
performance.
Lakshmi
is
in
top
form
and
proves
that
she
has
'still
got
it'.
Newcomer
Priyanka
Arul
Mohan
is
strictly
okay
and
does
not
make
much
of
an
impact.
Other
Departments
Anirudh
Ravichander's
tunes
are
quite
impressive,
adding
a
new
dimension
to
the
on-screen
action.
The
editing,
however,
is
quite
lacklustre
as
Gang
Leader
feels
a
bit
lengthy
and
drags
at
certain
points.
The
other
technical
departments
have
been
handled
well.
Positives
Nani
And
Lakshmi's
Performances
Background
Score
And
Songs
Interesting
Concept
Good
Second
Half
Negatives
Underwhelming
First
Half
Editing
Weak
Climax
The
Verdict
Gang
Leader
is
a
decent
attempt
at
storytelling,
which
makes
an
impact.