Gopichand’s ‘Viswam’ Struggles to Impress with Weak Screenplay

‘Viswam,’ an action comedy film starring Gopichand and directed by Sreenu Vaitla, premiered in cinemas globally on October 11, 2024. The film, much anticipated by fans, holds significant importance for both Gopichand, the lead actor, and director Sreenu Vaitla, as they aim for a successful comeback in the industry.

In ‘Viswam’, Gopichand stars as the lead character, Gopi, who travels from Italy to Hyderabad for Sameera, his love interest portrayed by Kavya Thapar. The narrative takes several unexpected turns, unraveling Gopi’s true identity as Viswam. The storyline explores the reasons behind his dual identity and his mission to save a young girl named Darshana from terrorists, creating various plots and subplots with connections to Viswam.

The film has been initially praised for its strong performances. Gopichand is said to deliver a powerful portrayal, especially excelling in the emotional and action-packed scenes. His romantic interactions with Kavya Thapar have been noted for their charm, while Kavya herself leaves a strong impression due to her glamorous role.

Bengali actor Jisshu Sengupta takes on a critical role in the film, successfully demonstrating his acting talent. The comedic elements of ‘Viswam’ are reportedly a highlight, thanks to the contributions of renowned comedians such as Sunil, Vennela Kishore, Prudhvi, Naresh, Pragathi, and VTV Ganesh, with Prudhvi’s performance receiving particular acclaim for his comedic timing.

However, despite its plus points, the film has faced criticism over its screenplay. The second half of the movie has been described as disappointing due to a lackluster and predictable narrative, which failed to engage audiences fully. Even with Sreenu Vaitla’s signature style, the storytelling fell short of its potential, particularly in the mind game segments and the backstory, which could have been developed more intensely.

On a technical level, music by Chetan Bhardwaj received mixed reviews, with some praise directed at the background score. Cinematography by KV Guhan ensured visually appealing sequences, although the editing by Amar Reddy Kudumula was noted to have fallen short, with several scenes dragging unnecessarily.

Producers TG Vishwa Prasad and Venu Donepudi did not compromise on production quality, evident from the film’s high production values. Nonetheless, while the film includes impressive visual and comedic moments, the overall outcome has been termed as average due to its uninspired narrative approach.