Gang Leader Movie Review: Nani is the star in a funny but illogical film

Director Vikram Kumar's Gang Leader doesn't waste time and delves right into the story. Six masked people are looting a bank with precision and don't leave any clue behind. As they rob Rs 300 crore, one of six members shoots the rest and escapes with the money.

14 months later, kin of these five dead robbers join hands to seek revenge and approach novelist Pencil Parthasarathy (Nani) for the same. He hesitates initially but agrees to help him so he can turn it into his original novel. So far, he has only been plagiarising content from Hollywood films.

Now, imagine a story where a novelist who writes (read: plagiarises) revenge stories, helps five women seek revenge. It could be a kickass black comedy on-screen with tense moments. However, Gang Leader is funny and thrilling only in parts.

It is veteran actress Lakshmi (who plays Saraswathi aka Bamma) who brings together four other women on this revenge mission. First, why would grown-up women encourage a kid to avenge the death of her father? Even though they talk about it, it is the little kid (child actor Praanya) who is the first to jump on this mission.

Gang Leader's strength lies in its incredible comedy and Nani's impeccable timing. Nani, Lakshmi and Saranya Ponvannan shoulder the entire movie with their terrific performances. The first half of Gang Leader is filled with moments which will make you laugh out loud.

However, when villain Dev (Karthikeya Gummakonda) enters, everything goes haywire. Right from his backstory to the revelation behind why the five people robbed a bank, everything doesn't create the impact it should have. He also has the same expression in every possible situation life throws at him. He looks menacing, but to us, he comes across as someone who is just brooding over some uninteresting stuff.

Nani's performance deserves a special mention as he holds the wafer-thin story together. His wit, comic timing and minute expressions are endearing to watch on screen. Lakshmi and Saranya Ponvannan add depth to an otherwise bland film with their near-perfect performances.

The weak link in Gang Leader is its haphazard screenplay which is stuffed to the brim with too many subplots. These sub-stories are not fully etched out and are left incomplete at off places. For example, there's a brewing romance between Nani and Priyanka. There's a message about how parents are left at old age homes. There's a story about a child who lost her voice due to the untimely death of her father.

At a point, these sub-plots become too much for the core story that Gang Leader is hinged on. Gang Leader had maximum potential. If only Vikram Kumar had concentrated more on the film's screenplay, it could have been an engaging watch.

Anirudh Ravichander's music, Miroslaw Kuba Brozek's cinematography and the film's production design are all perfect for the film's setting. Overall, Gang Leader is brilliant in certain parts. If only that could have been extended to form the entire film. If only.

2.5 out of 5 stars for Gang Leader.

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