Title: My Name Is Shruthi
CBFC Rating: UA Run-Time: 2 Hrs 10 Mins
Release Date: 17-11-2023
Banner: Vaishnavi Arts
Cast:Hansika Motwani, Murali Sharma, Jayaprakash, Aadukalam Naren, Dayanand Reddy, Prema, Pooja Rama Chandran, Raja Ravindra, CVL.Narasimha Rao, Praveen, SaiTej
Music: Mark K Robin
Cinematography: Kishore Boyidapu
Editor:Chota K Prasad
Produced By:Burugu Ramya Prabhakar
Written & Directed By: Srinivas Omkar
‘My Name Is Shruthi’ is produced by Burugu Ramya Prabhakar. The crime thriller, headlined by Hansika Motwani, is directed by Srinivas Omkar.
Story:
A renowned cosmetologist named Anu (Prema) is in cahoots with MLA Gurumurthy (Aadukalam Naren), who runs a skin tissue mafia for the benefit of the cosmetic surgery industry. Shruthi (Hansika), an employee at an Ad agency, comes face to face with the evil forces behind the skin traffickers. The goons are after her. The rest of the film is about what transpired in Shruthi’s life over a period of six months.
Performances:
Hansika Motwani brings her experience to the table. The proceedings acquire a sense of dread whenever she successfully brings out the vulnerability of her character. If she is her usual bubbly self in the light scenes, she is a totally different Hansika in the thrilling portions. The spin-chilling effect of the script is also felt through the characters played by Jayaprakash (as DGP) and Murali Sharma (as an investigator).
The police procedural scenes acquire significance in both halves. Pooja Ramachandran of ‘Swamy Ra Ra’ fame is surprisingly good in a negative role.
Technical Departments:
Mark K Robin’s background score is deft. The ‘Agent Sai Srinivas Athreya’ composer shows his talent in the second half especially, amping up the roller-coaster beats of the story. Kishore Boidapukala’s cinematography is good. Chota K Prasad’s editing is commendable. In the first half, a lot of scenes are not supposed to reveal anything. His editing and sequencing of shots engage the audience by making them do the guessing game.
Merits:
1. The investigation scenes.
2. Builds interest by introducing the skin mafia in a curious fashion.
3. Prema as Dr Kiranmai is a well-written character.
4. The corrupt system is more than just corrupt in this film. It is evil and savage.
5. Measured writing and dialogues drive the plot forward without taxing the viewer’s brain.
6. Involving family members in the realm of a crime thriller.
Demerits:
1. MLA Gurumurthy’s characterization could have been better.
2. The drug peddling angle could have been explored in a more innovative manner.
Analysis:
The film draws its material from the real-life menace of skin tissue harvesting. Apparently, human traffickers are involved in this unspeakable crime. Usually, human trafficking is limited to flesh trade and sexual exploitation in our films. In ‘My Name Is Shruthi’, for the first time on the Indian screen, the skin tissue harvesting has been shown. The film is more of a thriller rather than a drama exposing the modus operandi of the traffickers. Reports say that the skin tissue extracted from victims is sent to pathology labs, which then process the tissue. The product is then sent to advanced countries like the US where companies manufacture derivative products which are later supplied to the cosmetic surgery industry.
This film gets its emotional beats right. The second half is far more engaging compared to the first half. Hansika’s character, right from the start, appears to have been caught in a bind. A mysterious twist of fate six months back introduces her story. Her boyfriend Charan, her career dreams and more keep the audience engaged.
Some of the dialogues hit home. Just because the protagonist is a female, the director doesn’t spin the narration to evoke sympathy. The story is allowed to do the talking.
Verdict:
‘My Name Is Shruthi’ is rich in content and thrills.
Moviemanthra.com;Rating: 3/5
