Movie review: Super Ranga

Quick kicks

Rating: 3.5/5


Among the flood of remakes in recent months, comes this latest from Upendra. Super Ranga is Kick in its Kannada avatar. Trust Sadhu Kokila to give it the requisite flavour. He manages to give an 'Uppi' touch to the film, even managing to mask the recent use of a similar sub-plot in Upendra’s recent film Brahma. Using doses of 'Uppism' dialogues, liberal use of Kriti Kharbanda's glamour and by overexposing himself, Sadhu Kokila churns out a film that reeks of entertainment. There is no other purpose to the film and that should satisfy the audience who look for quick kicks.

The first half of the film is all about romance. The leading man who can go to any extent to get a 'kick,' even if it means endangering the lives of his friends and his own. The leading lady, who is a victim of his eccentric behaviour, has no other option but to fall in love with him. But when his behaviour shows no signs of change, separation happens. In a sub-plot, a no-nonsense police officer, played by Raghu Mukherjee, is playing a cat-and-mouse game with a thief who seems to be doing his job just for the thrills. The audience is shown that this is none other than our eccentric man. This police officer is now in Malaysia to get engaged to the heroine. Upendra too ends up there. But is he there for the girl or for another heist? And is he really the bad man he projects himself as? The second half is a bit slow, but soon enough races to a climax that is both sentimental and action-packed.

There is much to the film apart from the complicated plot itself. The scenes are colourful and the contrast between Kriti's skin and the bright colours of the costumes are fully exploited. Yes, the locations are also chosen for their bright background colours. Cinematographer Ashok Cashyap does his best playing with colours. Among the comedy actors, Rangayana Raghu's character fails with overdone hamming while Sadhu Kokila, Doddanna and others manage their part more subtly.