Sumanth’s career is filled with many lows and fewer highs, though one can never write off his potential as an actor. After two decades in the industry, it’s fair to say there’s more to him than being referred to as ANR’s grandson and Nagarjuna’s nephew. There’s a solid performer in him who moulds himself according to a character though the lead actor in him hasn’t been the crowd puller one expected him to be. Consistency and poor script selection have been major problems throughout his career.
Every now and then, though he’s had a Satyam, a Godavari, a Golkonda High School and a Malli Raava, the follow-up films have failed to live upto expectations. After the failure of Naruda Donaruda (a remake of Vicky Donor), Sumanth confessed that he would be extremely wary of doing remakes. He has taken a U-turn on that decision with Kapatadhaari, his next release on February 19, where he fits the role of a traffic policeman like a T.
The actor’s choice of a screenplay-driven story, a remake of the critically acclaimed Kannada film Kavaludaari, is apt at this stage of his career where he has nothing to prove, lose or gain. The story revolves around an unlikely friendship between a traffic policeman and a retired officer as they investigate a four-decade-old case. Sumanth has always been good when he underplays his characters and the directors have made an effort to understand his comic timing.
Kapatadhaari too just needs an actor like Sumanth, where the absence of an image is an advantage. This is that kind of a story that requires a spectator to forget the actor beyond a point and Sumanth fits into this space aptly, who’s been a very secure as a performer. The main problem though for Kapatadhaari is the absence of any pre-release buzz. A lineup comprising Nasser, Nanditha Swetha and Sumanth hasn’t been a cause of excitement for many.
Moreover, the Tamil remake of the same Kannada film, starring Sibi Sathyaraj, that released in January hasn’t fared extremely well. In terms of media attention, Allari Naresh’s Naandhi has stolen the limelight from Kapatadhaari. Vishal’s Chakra too may prove to be a competition on the release day. However, given Telugu audience’s appetite for offbeat cinema lately, Kapatadhaari still stands a chance to do well and provide a much-need zing to Sumanth’s career.