Parasakthi Movie Review: Sivakarthikeyan Film Struggles with Weak Drama

BOTTOM LINE

• Against Hindi, Pro-Lag

RATING

2/5

CENSOR DETAILS

2 hours 42 minutes • UA16+

What Is the Film About?

Parasakthi primarily focuses on language-based emotions, portraying how a large section of society and their everyday lives are impacted when influential authorities attempt to force Hindi upon them.

Performances

Sivakarthikeyan takes on the central role and appears pleasant as always, but the character lacks the layers needed for a powerful performance. While his sincerity is evident and his effort cannot be faulted, the role itself does not allow him much room to display his acting range.

Ravi Mohan delivers a routine performance that stays within his familiar territory, offering nothing striking or memorable. Atharvaa, who plays a significant role, blends well into the narrative and gives a clean and fitting performance.

Sreeleela plays the female lead, but her role remains fairly average. The character offers limited scope, and for most of the film, she feels more like a filler element rather than an integral part of the drama. This is largely due to weak character writing that prevents her from making a meaningful contribution to the story.

Analysis

Directed by Sudha Kongara, Parasakthi begins with a period setting rooted in the 1960s. The casting is appealing, and the authentic visual texture instantly draws attention. The narrative quickly moves into its central theme without unnecessary delay.

That said, from the introduction of the anti-Hindi sentiment up to the interval, the storytelling remains disappointingly dull, failing to explore its cinematic potential. Whether it is Ravi Mohan’s role as an officer, the student-led movements, or the subplots linked to language politics, everything feels fragmented and loosely connected. Some scenes attempt to evoke emotion, but the absence of a strong core conflict makes the drama feel disorganized. Even the relationship between the brothers and Sreeleela’s character seems designed merely to extend the runtime rather than strengthen the narrative.

As a result, the first half feels sluggish and barely engaging.

The second half continues to suffer from the same shortcomings. Sudha Kongara does not manage to build the emotional tension in a natural way. The latter portion unfolds without a strong emotional backbone capable of generating genuine impact.

Although a few scenes are well-executed and provoke thought, the character journeys are not developed convincingly. Ravi Mohan’s role remains flat and one-dimensional throughout. His character is meant to drive emotional shifts, but predictable storytelling prevents this from working effectively. The bond between the brothers also fails to reach an emotional high point, which stands out as a major missed opportunity.

The climax portion feels excessively stretched. While the film references certain real-life events, the transition from pre-climax to climax drags on, turning the finale into a lengthy episode rather than a rewarding conclusion.

Performances by Other Actors

Parasakthi features a well-selected supporting cast, and most actors perform efficiently within their limited screen time. The elderly characters and friends, in particular, leave a positive impression and serve their purpose well.

Rana Daggubati appears briefly, but his role leaves little impact. His entry feels more forced than natural, as if added for effect rather than woven seamlessly into the storyline.

Music and Technical Departments

G.V. Prakash handles the music, delivering songs that are acceptable but not exceptional. The background score complements the period setting reasonably well and supports the visual tone. Cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran excels with strong visuals and consistent quality, making the film visually appealing and one of its key strengths.

Editing by Sathish Suriya could have been sharper. Despite the existing runtime, both halves feel unnecessarily prolonged, indicating a need for tighter editing.

Highlights

• Realistic period backdrop
• Strong and polished visuals
• A few short but effective emotional moments

Drawbacks

• Weak and unengaging storytelling
• Key characters fail to create impact
• Emotional moments lack depth
• Writing does not leave a lasting impression
• Both halves feel slow and overstretched