Review: Jithender Reddy - Honest but Flawed

Movie: Jithender Reddy
Rating: 2.5/5

Cast: Rakesh Varre, Subbaraju, Chatrapati Sekhar, Sudhakar Reddy, Bindu Chandramouli and Others

Director: Virinchi Varma

Produced By: Muduganti Creations

Release Date: November 8, 2024

Story:

The film portrays the story of a brave man and dedicated RSS volunteer, Jithender Reddy (Rakesh Varre), who emerged as a student leader advocating for the rights of his peers and nationalism. The film's story also draws inspiration from several real events that took place in the former Karimnagar district (currently part of Jagityal) during the 1980s. Additionally, the film illustrates the struggles of Jithender Reddy against rival factions and his confrontations with the injustices inflicted by both the police and Naxalites.

 

Performances:

Rakesh Varre suited very well to the character of Jithender Reddy, and his performance was also apt. Subbaaraju made his presence felt while Chatrapati Sekhar, Sudhakar Reddy, Bindu Chandramouli, and others were fine in their limited supporting parts. Vaishali Raj and Riya Suman made their presence felt. 

 

What worked for the film:

 

Directed by Virinchi Varma, the film serves as a biographical portrayal, presenting a story written by M. Ravinder Reddy that is commendable. It highlights significant events from Jithender Reddy's life that garnered considerable media attention during that period. The scenes involving college politics and the protagonist's opposition to naxalism are portrayed perfectly. Also, the crucial dialogues about nationalism in some important moments worked well for the film. How the politicians and Naxalites coerce common people to suffer with their evil intentions is shown well. The climax action sequence was shot very well and brought the required effectiveness. 

 

What did not work for the film:

 

A more refined screenplay featuring a brisk narrative could have significantly enhanced the film's overall quality. Though the director's intention is noble, the required emotional impact is missing in many scenes because of its overdramatic nature. The big plot to kill/assassinate Jithende Reddy should have been shown more effectively, but it is shown like any normal scene. The casting was also a minus point for the movie, as important roles were donned by unknown/new artists, which led to an unengaging feeling in important scenes.

 

Jithender Reddy Review and Verdict:

 

Jithender Reddy is a genuine effort with sincere intentions that navigates us through important milestones in the journey of a real-life person. Still, the movie has its weaknesses and falls short, particularly in building a perfect screenplay and narrative flow.