“Swatimuthyam” served as the debut film for Bellamkonda Ganesh. Satish Varma, known for producing the critically acclaimed “Naandi,” took on the role of producer for Ganesh’s second film, “Nenu Student Sir.” During the film’s promotion, the producer confidently claimed that it would be as exciting as “Naandi.”
Has his assertion been proven correct?
Story:
Subbu (Bellamkonda Ganesh), a college student, becomes fixated on acquiring an iPhone. After purchasing the latest model, a brawl erupts between two student groups at his university the following day. Before any counseling can take place, the police confiscate all the phones involved.
Unfortunately, Subbu’s phone mysteriously disappears from the tray where the police stored it. In his quest to retrieve his phone, he seeks the assistance of Commissioner of Police Vasudevan (Samuthirakani). However, much to his dismay, the help he anticipates doesn’t materialize.
Subbu believes that befriending Shruti (Avantika), the commissioner’s daughter and a fellow student at their university, will facilitate the return of his phone. As Subbu and Shruti grow closer, they develop feelings for each other. However, his association with her ultimately entangles him in a murder case. The circumstances surrounding this event and the reasons behind it unfold as the story progresses.
Artistes’ Performances:
Bellamkonda Ganesh has the looks of a college student. He is a perfect match for the part.
Avantika Dassani, daughter of veteran actress Bhagyashri (of “Maine Pyar Kiya” fame), makes her acting debut in the film. However, her role is rather regular, and the romance between Ganesh and Avantika lacks fizz.
Samuthirakani portrays a good cop. He’s fine. Both Srikanth Iyengar and Charandeep perform their roles competently. Ravi Sivateja as the hero’s friend is okay.
Technical Excellence:
Production and technical values in the film are satisfactory. However, the film features zero effective musical score. The songs are totally forgettable. The dialogues really should have been witty.
Highlights:
The main point of bank scam
The interval bang
The last 15 minutes
Drawback:
The boring first half
Hero calling his phone as his brother is irritating
The scenes between hero and heroine
Ineffective narration
Analysis
At first glance, “Nenu Student Sir” gives the impression of a murder mystery or suspense thriller. However, the film only delves into its central issue—the fraud of stealing from unclaimed bank accounts—towards its final act. Much of the film revolves around the protagonist’s quest to find his lost phone and the subsequent events.
Withholding the central point until the end can be acceptable if the preceding sequences are highly captivating. While the film’s central premise is intriguing, the narration by the new director Rakhi Uppalapati fails to engage the audience enough to sustain their interest for over two hours.
The first act of “Nenu Student Sir” focuses on the protagonist’s obsession with obtaining an iPhone, which he affectionately refers to as “Buchi Babu” and treats as if it were a younger sibling. The second act revolves around his attempts to win over the heroine and retrieve his phone from the police. However, these parts lack interest and make the movie tedious. Thankfully, the film gains momentum when the hero is framed in a murder case, generating curiosity.
The main story of “Nenu Student Sir” revolves around a scam involving the theft of money from unclaimed bank accounts, which is a serious issue. The film merely scratches the surface of this subject, but there are enough elements present to create some exciting sequences. As mentioned, the film only becomes interesting during these portions, while the rest of the movie is dull.
Overall, the scam portrayed in “Nenu Student Sir” is interesting and relevant, but the execution and storytelling of the film fall short. The majority of the film lacks interest, yet the central idea is worth exploring. Perhaps, among the three new releases this weekend, this film is slightly better.
Bottom line: Unengaging