iSmart Shankar
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPuri Jagannadh
Written byPuri Jagannadh
Produced byPuri Jagannadh
Charmme Kaur
Starring
CinematographyRaj Thota
Edited byJunaid Siddiqui
Music byMani Sharma
Production
companies
Release date
  • 18 July 2019 (2019-07-18)
Running time
141 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu
Budget
Box office

iSmart Shankar is a 2019 Indian Telugu-language science fiction action film written and directed by Puri Jagannadh, who co-produced the film with Charmme Kaur. It stars Ram Pothineni in the title role along with Satyadev, Nabha Natesh, and Nidhhi Agerwal. The soundtrack and background score were composed by Mani Sharma. In the film, an assassin helps the cops to investigate a high-profile case when a slain cop's memories are transferred into his brain.[7]

iSmart Shankar was released theatrically on 18 July 2019, where it received mixed reviews from critics and became a commercial success at the box office.[4] A sequel, Double iSmart, has been announced to release on 8 March 2024.[8]

Plot

iSmart Shankar is a street-smart assassin who works under another assassin named Kaka. One day, Shankar encounters a rough woman named Chandini, when he was extorting money from an apartment complex builder. Impressed, Shankar falls for Chandini and tries various ways to impress her. Despite being annoyed at first, Chandini realizes her mistake. Under Kaka's orders, Shankar kills CM Kasi Vishwanath and escapes to Goa with Chandini. However, the cops learn about their location and a shootout ensues where Chandini gets killed and Shankar getting arrested.

Meanwhile, Sara, a neuroscientist who is working on memory transfer has achieved successful results with rats. Sara's boyfriend/fianceè Arun is a CBI officer, who is investigating Kasi Vishwanath's murder, believes that a higher force had planned and killed him. Shankar gets released from prison and deduces that Kaka had a major role in Chandni's death and has been ordered to kill him as well. Kaka tries to escape, but Shankar shoots Kaka in Sarah's car and flees while Sara calls Arun.

Arun catches a guy, but the guy is killed in a car accident and Arun's higher officials are after him to find the killer. When Arun is about to crack the case, he is shot and killed by the goons. CBI officer Chandrakanth is desperate to know about the killer, where they transfer Arun's memory to Shankar with Sara's help, knowing that Arun's memory will remove his past. Shankar wakes up and experiences memories that aren't his own. He gets enraged when Sara reveals the truth to him and realizes that he will forget Chandni in a few days.

Shankar experiences brief flashes where he becomes Arun, but reverts to being Shankar. Shankar finds Arun's house and discovers a bag that has evidences about the murderer, where he calls the Chandrakanth to meet him in Goa. When Arun is about to reveal the identity of the murderers, he reverts to Shankar and beats all the cops and takes Sara at knifepoint, where he escapes. After a few events, Shankar reverts to Arun and reveals to Chandrakanth that Kasi Vishwanath's son Devendra and brother-in-law Central Minister Ramamurthy are the masterminds behind the assassination.

With the help of Chandrakanth, Shankar devises a plan to arrest Devendra and Ramamurthy with the evidence in Benaras. Devendra gets exposed and escapes, where Arun follows him, but Devendra and his men continuously beat Arun in his head, which results in Arun getting reverted to Shankar. Sara tells Shankar that Devendra is responsible for Chandni's death. After an intense fight, Shankar kills Devendra, thus avenging Chandini's death. Sara and Arun/Shankar leave for Hong Kong on vacation, where Arun/Shankar proposes to Sara, who happily agrees. Arun reverts to Shankar as the movie ends and the credits roll.

Cast

Production

Principal photography began in January 2019 in Hyderabad. The first schedule finished in February 2019.[9] The second schedule took place in Goa and the filming resumed in March 2019.[10] The cast have shot action scenes of the film in April 2019 and the third schedule took place in Varanasi.[11] The filming was completed in mid May 2019.[12]

Release

The film was released theatrically on 18 July 2019. The film was also dubbed and released in Hindi on YouTube on 16 February 2020 by Aditya Movies. The Hindi dubbed version crossed more than 300 million views.[13]

Soundtrack

iSmart Shankar
Soundtrack album by
Mani Sharma
Released4 July 2019
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length21:09
LanguageTelugu
LabelZee Music South
Mani Sharma chronology
Devadas
(2018)		 ''iSmart Shankar''
(2019)
External audio
audio icon Audio Jukebox on YouTube
Track list
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Dimaak Kharaab"Kasarla ShyamKeerthana Sharma, Saketh Komanduri4:40
2."Zindabad Zindabad"Bhaskarabhatla Ravi KumarSarath Santhosh and Ramya Behara4:40
3."iSmart Theme"Bhaskarabhatla Ravi KumarAnurag Kulkarni4:12
4."Undipo"Bhaskarabhatla Ravi KumarAnurag Kulkarni, Ramya Behara5:09
5."Bonalu"Kasarla ShyamRahul Sipligunj, Mohana Bhogaraju5:51
Total length:21:09

Reception

iSmart Shankar received mixed reviews from critics with praise for the Ram's performance, soundtrack, background score and action sequences, but criticized its screenwriting.

Critical reception

123Telugu gave 3.25 out of 5 stars and wrote "iSmart Shankar is an unapologetic full on mass masala entertainer aimed at the masses. Ram’s crazy makeover will be loved by many. His one man show and good music make the otherwise ordinary story and dull narration click in several areas."[14] Hemanth Kumar of Firstpost gave 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "Despite its crassness at times, iSmart Shankar strikes a chord largely due to its story, Puri Jagannadh’s conviction, and Mani Sharma’s compelling background score."[15]

The Times of India gave 2.5 out of 5 stars stating, "In this make-believe world, when rules change by-the-minute, it’s hard to give a damn".[16] Sify gave 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "iSmart Shankar is aimed at frontbenchers. Despite the idea of transplantation of memories being new, the rest of the story and its treatment are over-the-top and too clichéd. This is a loud mass action-thriller".[17]

Awards and nominations

Date of ceremony Award Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref.
11 January 2020 Zee Cine Awards Telugu Best Director Puri Jagannadh Won [18]
Best Producer Charmy Kaur Won
Best Music Director Mani Sharma Won
Sensational Star of the Year Ram Pothineni Won
Best Actor (Male) Ram Pothineni Nominated
18 September 2021 South Indian International Movie Awards Best Director – Telugu Puri Jagannadh Nominated
Best Cinematographer – Telugu Raj Thota Nominated
Best Actor – Telugu Ram Pothineni Nominated
Best Music Director – Telugu Mani Sharma Nominated
Best Male Playback Singer – Telugu Anurag Kulkarni for "iSmart Theme" Won

Sequel

In September 2022, it has been reported that the sequel is currently being developed due to Jagannadh's film, Jana Gana Mana being shelved after the box office disappointment of Jagannadh's previous venture Liger.[19] An official announcement of the sequel titled Double iSmart has been announced in May 2023.[8]

Notes

  1. ↑ Deccan Chronicle estimates the film's budget to be ₹150 million.[2] The Hans India estimates the film's budget to be ₹200 million.[3]
  2. ↑ The Times of India estimates the film worldwide gross to be over ₹750 million.[4] Sakshi Telugu estimates the film worldwide gross to be ₹780 million.[5] Sakshi Post estimates the film worldwide gross to be ₹850 million.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Hooli, Shekhar H. (18 July 2019). "iSmart Shankar movie review and rating by audience: Live updates". www.ibtimes.co.in. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "Tollywood 2019". Deccan Chronicle. 30 December 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  3. ↑ "Ismart Shankar pre-release business report". The Hans India. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  4. 1 2 "iSmart Shankar completes 100 days; Ram, Puri and Charmme reminisce the success". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "2019లో భారీ వసూళ్లు రాబట్టిన సినిమాలివే." [Highest grossing films of 2019]. Sakshi (in Telugu). 31 December 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  6. ↑ "iSmart Shankar Closing Collections: Ram Pothineni Ustad Of Tollywood Box Office". Sakshi. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  7. ↑ ""Only inspiration, no copy": Puri Jagannadh clarifies about 'iSmart Shankar' similarities with 'iBoy'". The Times of India. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  8. 1 2 "Puri Jagannadh confirms the sequel to 'iSmart Shankar'; Title registered as 'Double iSmart'". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  9. ↑ "ISMART SHANKAR' DONE WITH HYD SCHEDULE, TO GO TO GOA". India Glitz. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  10. ↑ Neeshita Nyayapati (23 March 2019). "Puri Jagannadh and Ram Pothineni's 'iSmart Shankar' wraps up Goa schedule". Times of India. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  11. ↑ "'iSmart Shankar' moves to Varanasi". Telugu Cinema. 30 April 2019. Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  12. ↑ "'ISMART SHANKAR' WRAPS UP TALKIE PART, LOCKS TEASER DATE". India Glitz. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  13. ↑ iSmart Shankar Full Hindi Dubbed Movie | Ram Pothineni, Nidhi Agerwal, Nabha Natesh, retrieved 19 September 2022
  14. ↑ "Review : iSmart Shankar – Ram's Massy treat". 123Telugu.
  15. ↑ "iSmart Shankar movie review: Ram's pulsating energy meets its match in Puri Jagannadh's irreverence". Firstpost. 18 July 2019.
  16. ↑ "ISMART SHANKAR MOVIE REVIEW". TimesofIndia.
  17. ↑ "iSmart Shankar review: A loud, over-the-top mass action-thriller". Sify. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019.
  18. ↑ "Zee Cine awards Telugu 2020: Samantha Akkineni, Chiranjeevi and Nani win top laurels". Hindustan Times. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  19. ↑ "Puri Jagan To Do iSmart Shankar-2 Now?". indiaherald.com. Retrieved 4 September 2022.

ISmart Shankar at IMDb

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