Acharya, created by Koratala Siva, was one of the most awaited movies of the year due to Mega Star Chiranjeevi and his son Ram Charan coming together for the first time on the big screen. The movie had generated so much hype that fans trended it all over India for the whole month of April. Finally, it hit the theatres on April 29, and since then, fans have left beguiled and bewildered by the lacklustre humdrum story of the film.
Acharya has poor writing that does not allow the father-son duo to showcase their acting talent. Even though Ram Charan and Chiranjeevi have tried hard to breathe life into this drama, the overall monotonous narrative degrades their efforts. The film is nothing but a tedious tale that makes the fans wonder when will it eventually end.
Acharya’s plot is concerned with three villages, Dharmasthali, Siddhavanam and Padaghattam, with deep connections and interlinked values and faith systems. However, Basava, played by Sonu Sood, has destroyed the peace surrounding the states, and Dharamasthali becomes the centre he exploits for his personal gains. Basava’s evil doing prevents Padaghattam’s people from visiting the temple town of Dharmasthali.
How can the people of Dharmasthali and Padaghatttam attain the peaceful environment that once surrounded the villages? The answer to this question forms the core of the story. Acharya, portrayed by Chiranjeevi, goes against Basava and other villains to bring back prosperity to the villages. How Sidha, played by Ram Charan, fits into the narrative and what roles does he play in the eventual alleviation of Basava’s control completes the plot.
Acharya suffers from a lack of imaginative writing as the film does not feel fresh. The age-old story of a hero saving two villages from a villain lacks the twists and turns required to distinguish it from other movies. The cinematography is also below par. Although the trailer looked promising, the film fails to deliver the enthralling action sequences expected from it.
The viewers achieve delight only for a handful of the moments in the movie. The countable memorable moments of the film display the let-down Acharya is. Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan are the only two good things in this dreary drama. The film tries hard to produce emotions at the back-end, but the story constructed to reach that point weakens the effectiveness of what could have been a remarkable moment. Overall it’s a forgettable experience.
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