Rewind Movie Review: A Fresh Start in the First Direction

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Cast: Sai Ronak, Amrita Chaudhary, Fun Bucket Rajesh, Bharat, Abhishek Vishwakarma, Suresh, Jabardast Nagi, KA Paul Ram
Screenplay, Producer, Director: Kalyan Chakraborty
Music: Aashirwad
Cinematography: Siva Ram Charan
Editor: Tushara Pala
Lyricist: Ravi Varma Akula

Release date; 18/10/2024

Moviemanthra.com;Rating;3.25/5

The Rewind movie marks Kalyan Chakraborty’s directorial debut. It was produced under the banner of Cross Wire Creations. With Sai Ronak and Amrita Chaudhary in the lead roles, this film combines romance, time travel, and familial emotions. Released just before Diwali, Rewind captured the audience’s attention with its intriguing teaser and trailer. Let’s dive into the film’s story and see how the debut director fared.

Story:
The movie centers around Karthik (Sai Ronak), a software engineer who falls in love at first sight with Shanti (Amrita Chaudhary), a woman living in the same apartment complex. Karthik is thrilled to discover that she works in the same office as him. Just as he gathers the courage to confess his love, Shanti reveals she already has a boyfriend, much to Karthik’s disappointment. Things take a supernatural twist when Karthik finds a mysterious bag that once belonged to Shanti’s grandfather. Karthik embarks on a time-travel adventure through this bag, hoping to alter the past and win Shanti’s heart. His plan? Go back in time to the day Shanti met her boyfriend and prevented their meeting. But can Karthik successfully rewrite history? Will altering the past allow him to avoid not just romantic heartbreak but also prevent his father’s death? The answers unfold as the movie progresses.

Performances:
Sai Ronak shines as Karthik, convincingly portraying a charming software engineer smitten with love. His onscreen presence fits well for the character, particularly in romantic and emotional moments. Amrita Chaudhary plays the female lead, Shanti, with grace. Her performance balances beauty and emotional depth, and her chemistry with Sai Ronak adds freshness to the narrative. The supporting cast, including Fun Bucket Rajesh, Bharat, and Abhishek Vishwakarma, add comic and dramatic relief, while Suresh, as Karthik’s father, delivers a touching performance, especially in the emotional scenes.

Direction and Screenplay:
Kalyan Chakraborty, in his directorial debut, manages to impress. Chakraborty has displayed his natural storytelling talent despite not having prior directorial experience or industry training. His direction keeps the audience engaged, particularly with the way he intertwines the time travel concept with romance and family dynamics. The father-son relationship is especially well handled, adding emotional weight to the narrative. Additionally, Chakraborty deserves credit for creating a romance that avoids typical clichés, keeping it pure without relying on unnecessary physical intimacy. His screenplay is thoughtful, with many questions raised in the first half answered satisfactorily in the second.

Technical Aspects:
Aashirwad’s score complements the film’s tone, particularly during the emotional and time-travel scenes. Siva Ram Charan’s visuals help present the film’s romantic and sci-fi elements well. The thoughtful cinematography heightened the film’s aesthetic appeal. Tushara Pala’s editing ensures a smooth flow, though certain parts could have been slightly tighter for better impact.

Plus Points:
Time Travel Element: The use of time travel as a narrative device is executed with precision, avoiding confusion and keeping the plot engaging.

Father-Son Track: The emotional storyline between Karthik and his father is one of the highlights, evoking sentiment and depth.

Romantic Subplot: The love angle is handled delicately, adding a refreshing layer to the usual romance formula.

Direction and Screenplay: For a debut, Kalyan Chakraborty manages to create a cohesive story that blends various genres effectively.

Minus Points:
Pace Issue

Review:
While the first half hooks the audience with its intriguing setup, the movie slows down in parts, particularly when explaining the time travel mechanism. Some supporting characters, though entertaining, could have been more fleshed out to add further depth to the narrative. Rewind is an impressive debut effort by Kalyan Chakraborty, showcasing his potential as a storyteller. With engaging performances by Sai Ronak and Amrita Chaudhary, a well-executed time travel concept, and a heartwarming father-son track, the film offers a fresh narrative. Though it has some pacing issues, it manages to entertain and tug at the heartstrings, especially with its emotional core. It’s a film worth watching, especially for those who enjoy romantic dramas with a twist of sci-fi.