Firstly, let me get this straight—I wasn’t a big fan of iSmart Shankar. The first part didn’t even feel like an average flick, except for Ram’s performance. The main reasons were that the villains were not as strong as you’d typically expect in a Puri Jagannadh film, and the love story between the lead pair, Ram and Nabha Natesh, was unimpressive. In fact, the actress’s over-the-top performance made it somewhat irritating.
I bring up these points only to say that everything I missed in iSmart Shankar was fulfilled by Puri Jagannadh in Double iSmart. Sanjay Dutt, Bani J, and Kavya Thappar—all three characters made the film worth watching. It didn’t feel like the Puri Jagannadh of Loafer, but more like the one from Heart Attack.
Double iSmart doesn’t serve as a direct sequel, as they’ve removed the unnecessary love story memories in Ram’s brain from the first part. What makes the sequel even more interesting is that Ram’s memories have been exchanged with those of an antagonist, rather than an honest police officer, which makes the face-off intriguing and if well-handled in the latter half. It’s going to be a treat.
The love story between Ram and Kavya Thappar’s characters is impressive. While it’s nothing new, Puri’s version of love stories always has its charm—something that was missing in iSmart Shankar but is well-covered here. Ali’s episodes as Boka are initially impressive, but they go overboard later.
The music by Mani Sharma could have been better, and a slightly less trimmed version of the film would have made it look even better.
The film kicks off well after the interesting turn of events in the interval episode, with the protagonist stealing the show by delving into the antagonist’s memories. The blend of good and evil in one characterization creates some exciting vibes. However, the film later falls flat but regains its momentum during the climax, leading to a satisfying ending.
Pragati’s character plays a crucial role, particularly in terms of the mother sentiment, which worked well in the film.
“A well-reshaped Ustaad ‘Is’ Smart”
The film has all the right elements for a commercial hit. If the songs had carried the same energy, it could have blended into a very good film, but it’s still not to be taken lightly. I wouldn’t call it a Puri comeback film, but considering his previous setbacks, this one is impressive.
What can you expect from a Puri film, basically? A bold love story within the standards of his directorial style? Check. Hero characterization? Check. Powerful villains? Absolutely. Mother sentiment? Well, we all know he has a strong grip on handling these scenes.
I liked how Puri Jagannadh remodeled his approach in showcasing iSmart Shankar, transitioning from a brutally crude character to one with a more reasonable life, including a strong mother sentiment and a properly driven love story this time around. This shift actually made sense and established that Ram Pothineni is hero material through Double iSmart instead of just a roadside thug.
The addition of Sanjay Dutt, Bani J, and Kavya Thappar’s characters made the film worth watching. These well-designed characterizations ignited more mass appeal, which is crucial for a commercial film.
Overall Verdict: The overall runtime and average music might set us back a bit, but rest assured, the entertainment is guaranteed.
Note:* It’s a personal opinion. It will not be based on it’s film run or the talk on the other side.
