Gangs of Godavari: A gangster drama that never realises its full potential

Movies By Haricharan Pudipeddi May 31, 2024 Read the article

Crime and politics make for a great recipe for a masterpiece. Director Krishna Chaitanya’s Gangs of Godavari—his most ambitious film thus far is such an attempt.

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For a film about crime-politics, the story needed better world-building and tension which were completely missing.

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What sets Gangs of Godavari apart from other Telugu films in similar spaces is the milieu and setting. There’s more to Godavari than meets the eye.

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Unlike most Telugu films that have explored politics and power dynamics, here’s a film that showcases Godavari in a different light altogether.

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This attempt to use Godavari as a backdrop to narrate a story about power politics is praiseworthy, despite its glaring flaws. It’s the visuals that hold the film together.

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As far as the performances go, Vishwak Sen steals the limelight effortlessly, and it isn’t an exaggeration to call it one of his finest performances.

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Anjali gets a meaty part after a long time. Given her repertoire, she rises to the occasion and delivers a memorable performance.

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Everything is dealt with on the surface level. If only the writing was strong and complemented the visuals like it should have, this would’ve been a superior film.

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