George Reddy (2019)

There is no dearth of 'goosebumps' moments in Jeevan Reddy's biopic of erstwhile student union leader George Reddy. With nothing out of place or blown out of proportion, Jeevan stays true to the incidents that rocked Andhra Pradesh's politics in the 60s and 70s. At no point, does he try to make the character seem larger-than-life, and keeps things real, making George Reddy a gripping watch. The film begins when Muskaan (Muskaan Khubchandani), a research scholar based out of USA sets out on a mission to study and document George Reddy's life. Little did she realize, that she was about to embark on an enigmatic journey through the historical aspects of politics in Osmania University, and understand the man who transformed how politics became an integral part of campus life. George Reddy (Sandeep Madhav), born in rural Kerala, quenches his thirst for knowledge with genuine curiosity towards his surroundings, often explained by his mother, Leela Varghesin (Devika Daftardar). His mother encourages him to read, the first book she gives him is titled Why Am I An Atheist? written by Bhagat Singh. George cannot get enough of it. When he goes to University, George experiences first-hand, the discrimination and struggles faced by his fellow students from various socially backward communities. He then realizes that oppression by violence means can't just be countered by peaceful means. His philosophy is on point, "Slogan for a slogan" and "punch for a punch." Soon, the 23-year-old's campaigning went beyond just university walls. Not only did he lead his party (PS) in university polls, his ideas began to inspire people outside of it, including farmers and marginalized workers. And it is at this juncture of his life when he first encounters the rotten system, built only to benefit a few, a capitalist state, in his own words. As his struggle intensifies and his movement gains momentum all over the country, things get more complicated for George Reddy. Although George Reddy starts on a slow note, the intensity gradually builds up and director Jeevan masterfully pulls you into the story and into the world of George Reddy. Sandeep Madhav along with Abhay Bethiganti and Muskaan shine in their respective roles. The background score by Harshavardhan Rameshwar is top-notch and elevates the drama in some of the intense scenes. The cinematography too is first rate, with Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti ensuring the film is visually arresting. Although Jeevan tells a gripping story, some of the key dialogues are botched up due to a haphazard screenplay. For instance, a dialogue as powerful as 'jeena hai to marna seekho, kadam kadam par ladna seekho' brings up the intensity, but is soon shifted to more normal surrounding, thus hampering its momentum and blunting the effect of the dialogue. The story works, but Jeevan falters in its screenplay and there's often a disconnect between scenes. The character of Muskaan too doesn't really contribute much to the story. But make no mistake, George Reddy is a bold refreshing take on a story that's yet to be explored in Telugu cinema. The film will keep you gripped, move you with its dialogues and leave an emotional, powerful impact. A trip to the theaters to watch George Reddy's journey would be worth your time.