The Good:
The music and background score of Adipurush emerge as the saving grace and best quality of the film. Composed by Ajay-Atul, with a score formulated by Sanchit and Ankit Balhara, the music evokes emotions and adds depth to key scenes. The inclusion of the classic "Ram Siya Ram" and the soulful rendition of "Shreya Goshal" by Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal are particularly noteworthy. The score accompanying the antagonist, Ravan, effectively portrays his evil intentions, while the music assisting Hanuman's pivotal scenes adds to their impact.
Mixed Performances:
The ensemble cast of Adipurush delivers mixed performances, resulting in a rather mediocre experience for fans. While Saif Ali Khan impresses with his portrayal of Lankesh, the styling choices and some comical aspects hinder the seriousness of the character. Prabhas showcases a sincere demeanor as Lord Ram, but his shift towards aggression feels out of sync with the character's essence. Other performances, such as Sunny Singh and Kriti Sanon, are satisfactory but fail to stand out.
The Underwhelming Aspects:
One of the major drawbacks of Adipurush is the cringe-worthy dialogue, which detracts from the sacredness of the original text. Some dialogues come across as more fitting for a mass commercial action film rather than an adaptation of an ancient epic. Additionally, the CGI and visual effects in the film are subpar, bordering on the cartoonish. The dimmed frames and the incomplete job in rendering the visuals leave the viewer disconnected and detract from the overall experience.
Shortcomings in Narrative and Visuals:
Given the magnitude of the epic Ramayan and the extensive cast of characters it encompasses, Adipurush struggles to do justice to the source material. With a runtime of under 3 hours, the film skims past several pivotal plot points and subplots, resulting in an incomplete and rushed narrative. The comparisons with the extensive 78-episode series by Ramanand Sagar and the impact of the animated feature from 1992 are inevitable. Adipurush falls short in delivering a holistic and engaging storyline.
In Conclusion:
Adipurush's journey from highly anticipated film to mixed reviews is a reflection of the lofty expectations surrounding adaptations of revered epics. While the film's music and background score excel, the mixed performances, cringe-worthy dialogue, and underwhelming visual effects hinder its overall impact. Adipurush attempts to encapsulate a grand narrative within a limited runtime, but it falls short of capturing the essence and depth of the original text. Ultimately, the decision to watch Adipurush in theaters rests with individual viewers and their tolerance for its shortcomings.