'Check' has released in theatres today (February 26). Helmed by Chandrasekhar Yeleti, it had set the expectations high among a section of viewers with its teaser and trailer. In this section, we are going to review the latest box-office release.
Story
Aditya (Nithin) is all set to be hanged in connection with a terrorist attack. He got framed even though he is innocent. Life gives him an opportunity to escape death when he discovers the sport of chess. Aditya aces the game in no time with the support of a fellow prisoner (Sai Chand). If he becomes a grandmaster in the game, the President of India might commute his death sentence. Does Aditya have it in him to become a world champion? What are the obstacles he faces in his pursuit? That's the crux of the story.
Performances
For Nithin, playing intense characters is not a regular thing. 'Check' doesn't let him do those typical 'chocolate boy' things that he has been known for. The actor attunes himself to the mood of the script. Rakul Preet Singh is convincing in the role of a lawyer. Murali Sharma as a good cop is a plus.
While Sampath Raj gets to show the angry side of his acting (like in some of his previous films), Priya Prakash Varrier's presence lightens the mood of the film. After a film like 'Uppena', Sai Chand gets to play an interesting role in this one. He doesn't disappoint anywhere. Posani Krishna Murali struggles to evoke laughs.
Technical aspects
Kalyani Malik had admittedly offered 75 tunes before the director settled for 'Ninnu Choodakunda'. The duet, shot on Nithin and Priya, is just about okay. But then, 'Check' is all about the serious scenes and the BGM had to be extraordinary. The composer rises to the occasion and gives an able output.
Rahul Shrivastav's cinematography stands out. It captures the prison, which is not a real one but a set erected for the film, in a realistic manner.
Analysis
Yeleti's movies have been hailed for their intelligence. With the exception of 'Manamantha', whose sensibilities were meant for the family audience, his films have happily targeted the youths.
'Check', which is in the mould of a sports-based prison thriller, doesn't live up to the hype surrounding it. Aditya is shown to be an orphan who took to cheating people from a young age. And he turns out to be a genius who masters the game of chess in a jiffy.
When Manasa decides to fight for his mercy, the plot seems to thicken. But the bad men in the jail and the angry cop (Sampath Raj) drag down the film to the level of a cliched drama.
The second half lacks any interesting elements. A couple of fights allow the film to falter. The climax is terribly illogical.
Closing Remarks
'Check' lacks not just logic but also an emotional connect. By the time the film ends, you start wondering not about how Aditya mastered chess in the shortest possible time but if Viswanathan Anand will take offence if he were to watch the film!
