Over the past few days, the makers of Gayapadda Simham have been using American President Donald Trump in their promotions. Many people dream of going to the US, but not everyone achieves it. Some get visas, while others keep trying or settle for opportunities in India. However, debutant director Kasyap Sreenivas builds a rather silly premise where the protagonist goes to the US for his fiancée, only to be deported immediately. He then returns to India and decides to take revenge on the American President, Donald Trump, for tightening visa rules. The narration is unclear, cliched, and filled with outdated humour, aptly reflecting the title Gayapadda Simham (Wounded Lion).
Director: Kasyap Sreenivas
Cast: Tharun Bhascker, Sree Vishnu, JD Chakravarthy, Faria Abdullah, Manasa Chaudhary, Kasyap Sreenivas, Subhalekha Sudhakar, Harsha Vardhan, and others
Back in India, Dharahas (Tharun Bhascker) decides to take revenge on Trump and consults a black magic practitioner (Sree Vishnu). Meanwhile, Brutal Dharma (JD Chakravarthy), a goon who runs a courier company called Satya Logistics, gets entangled in Dharahas’ bizarre plan. Shalini (Faria Abdullah), a vlogger, also becomes part of the story. What follows is a predictable and unconvincing narrative.
For a debutant, Kasyap chooses a story that feels illogical, outdated, and poorly executed. The film begins with Dharahas meeting his girlfriend’s father, who imposes several conditions, including going to the US. What follows is a series of disconnected scenes, an unnecessary song, outdated comedy tracks, and a weak revenge plot.
Subhalekha Sudhakar, playing a senior cop, narrates the story in a KGF-style voiceover, which feels forced and unnecessary. None of the characters is well-developed, and not a single scene leaves an impact.
The second half further derails with a series of spoofs, including references to films like Pokiri, Salaar, and Bommarillu. These sequences appear forced and exist merely to stretch the runtime. There is no solid narrative or emotional depth, making the film feel outdated and directionless.
Despite having capable actors like Sree Vishnu, JD Chakravarthy, Subhalekha Sudhakar, and Faria Abdullah, the director fails to utilize them effectively. The film relies heavily on weak spoofs and substandard humour.
Sweekar Agasthi’s music is another drawback, with songs that fail to impress and a background score that lacks impact. The dialogues are flat and unengaging, while the cinematography remains average.
Performance-wise, none of the actors stand out. While Tharun Bhascker appears disinterested, Sree Vishnu lends some presence to a poorly written role that doesn’t add much value. JD Chakravarthy is completely wasted in an underdeveloped role. Subhalekha Sudhakar is limited to the role of a narrator, while Faria Abdullah and Manasa Chaudhary get little scope to perform. The rest of the cast merely fill screen space.
Finally, Gayapadda Simham is a below-par film with an outdated storyline, weak narration, and forced humour. Kasyap Sreenivas misses a big opportunity with his debut, delivering a film that fails to engage on any level.
