Rating:
2.5/5
Star
Cast:
Ram
Pothineni,
Nidhhi
Agerwal,
Nabha
Natesh,
Satya
Dev,
Getup
Srinu
Director:
Puri
Jagannadh
When
it
comes
to
showcasing
his
protagonists
as
larger
than
life
and
making
them
endearing
to
the
mass,
no
one
does
it
better
than
Puri
Jagannadh.
We
have
seen
this
in
films
like
Pokkiri,
Businessman,
Temper
and
such.
With
iSmart
Shankar,
Puri
Jagannadh
has
attempted
to
give
popular
young
hero
Ram,
a
makeover.
Has
iSmart
Shankar
provided
the
necessary
makeover
for
Ram?
Is
iSmart
Shankar
a
smart
movie?
Read
our
take
on
this
Puri
Jagannadh-Ram
movie
to
get
answers
for
the
same.
Plot
iSmart
Shankar
revolves
around
a
small-time
goon
Shankar,
who
has
so
far
only
got
some
petty
works
to
deal
with.
But,
there
comes
a
situation
that
could
turn
his
life
upside
down.
What
happens
rest
has
been
narrated
in
iSmart
Shankar.
Screenplay
&
Direction
Puri
Jagannadh
has
set
a
path
for
his
own
with
the
numerous
successes
that
he
has
and
the
writer
and
director
in
him
knows
the
right
template
that
would
make
an
instant
connect
with
the
audiences.
In
iSmart
Shankar,
he
introduces
a
bit
of
science
fiction
element
as
well,
which
acts
as
the
USP
of
this
mass
entertainer.
iSmart
Shankar
starts
off
on
a
routine
format
with
the
introduction
of
the
hero,
the
tappy
dance
numbers,
the
necessary
action
sequences,
etc.
The
director
has
placed
Shankar
in
an
interesting
scenario
and
the
way
he
has
used
the
actor
in
Ram,
giving
him
a
different
body
language
and
slang
is
impressive.
These
portions
are
definitely
entertaining
and
due
credits
to
the
way
the
director
has
packaged
the
film.
However,
it
is
the
concept
of
the
film
that
attracts
the
most
but
the
writer-director
takes
time
to
establish
that.
The
first-half
is
entertaining
with
everything
that
a
commercial
potboiler
deserves
and
the
interval
too
packs
a
punch
thus
pushing
the
expectations
of
the
audiences.
From
there,
the
team
had
a
very
interesting
plot
point
to
pitch
in
but
it
needs
to
be
said
that
the
proceeding
in
the
second-half
was
not
up
to
the
mark.
What
could
have
been
path-breaking
or
scintillating
ends
up
as
usual
and
average.
It
felt
like
the
makers
were
trying
to
fit
in
too
many
things,
which
lacked
conviction.
Even
the
action
sequences
in
the
climax
could
have
got
a
scintillating
turn
around
if
the
writing
of
the
sequences
towards
that
point
was
extraordinary.
Performances
Ram
should
be
credited
for
the
makeover
that
he
has
done
and
the
actor
has
put
in
good
effort
to
portray
Shankar
as
per
the
imagination
of
the
writer-director.
His
control
over
the
body
language
as
well
as
the
slang
is
impressive.
Flexibility
in
action
sequences
too
deserves
praises.
Nabha
Natesh
and
Nidhi
Aggerwal
are
the
leading
ladies.
The
best
part
of
the
film
is
that
they
are
not
there
in
the
film
for
the
sake
of
it
but
they
have
important
roles
to
portray.
Sathyadev
makes
a
mark
with
his
short
yet
important
role.
Experienced
campaigners
like
Sayaji
Shinde
and
Ashish
Vidyarthu
too
pitch
in
with
good
performances.
Other
Aspects
One
can't
miss
out
the
name
of
Mani
Sharma
and
his
BGM
works
are
simply
top
notch.
It
adds
intensity,
power
and
entertaining
aspects
to
the
film.
The
songs
are
also
good
and
are
upbeat
with
the
mood
of
the
film.
Cinematography
is
stylish
and
editing
too
is
decent.
Positives
Ram's
Performance
The
Interesting
Concept
Puri
Jagannadh's
Stylish
Making
Mani
Sharma's
BGM
Negatives
Weak
Screenplay
Movie
Gets
Predictable
After
A
Point
Overdosage
Of
Songs
Verdict
iSmart
Shankar
had
the
potential
to
be
a
smarter
movie
than
what
it
has
now
turned
out
to
be.
Nevertheless,
this
one
is
an
enjoyable
fare
despite
the
predictability.