Game Changer’ is a political action drama film directed by renowned filmmaker S. Shankar. This is his first Telugu film, which is produced on a grand scale by Dil Raju and Shirish under the banner of Sri Venkateswara Creations. The film stars Ram Charan in a powerful dual role and features alongside experienced actors like Kiara Advani, Anjali, S.J. Suryah, Srikanth, Sunil, Jayaram and Samuthirakani. Releasing on the auspicious occasion of Sankranti on 10 January 2025, the story of this film revolves around the complexities of politics, corruption, justice and administrative system.

The story of the film depicts the struggle and sacrifice of an honest IAS officer named Ram Nandan, who walks on the path of truth despite being unaware of his father’s political past. The direction, music and cinematography show high quality, while Thaman S’s music takes the film to emotional and dramatic heights. Though the film received mixed reviews from critics, Ram Charan’s impressive performance and strong social message caught the attention of the audience. This film not only entertains but also provides a thought-provoking experience.

Game Changer Story

Ram Nandan, an honest and combative young man, clears the UPSC exams to become an IAS officer and gets posted in Visakhapatnam. There he clashes with an old college rival “Sand” Simha, who is involved in illegal sand mining and is protected by Minister Bobbili Monpidevi. Monpidevi is the son of Chief Minister Satya Murthy, who himself is power hungry.

Ram warns the corrupt in the city but when they don’t listen, he takes strict action—seals an adulterated rice factory and demolishes an illegal mall. In the past, Ram was studying MBBS but due to his short temper, his girlfriend Deepika advises him to join the civil services. First he becomes an IPS, which upsets Deepika and she leaves him, but later he becomes an IAS.

Ram wins Deepika’s heart after meeting her again. At a rally, an old woman Parvati exposes the misdeeds of Chief Minister Satya Murthy, which leads to his death. After this, Monpidevi becomes the Chief Minister and traps Ram in false charges.

It is soon revealed that Ram is the son of Appanna, who was the founder of the Abhyudayam Party and was killed by Sathya Murthy. Ram becomes an Election Commission officer and conducts fair elections. Ram foils Monpidevi’s attempts to rig the elections and eventually the Abhyudayam Party wins by a huge margin. The people elect Ram as the new Chief Minister, who emerges as a symbol of honesty and justice.

Movie review

“Game Changer” is a visually appealing and technically excellent film that attempts to bring out the complexities of Indian politics. Its cinematography, screen presentation and the pace of the plot keep the audience captivated. The core message of the film is to expose the corrupt political system and legal loopholes – especially how these loopholes can be used for good or bad purposes.

The story starts with a bit of dramatic and fast action sequences, which may seem off-putting to some viewers, but as the film progresses, the action becomes more realistic and relevant. Interestingly, when the main character becomes the Election Commissioner, he uses the very laws that are often broken by the corrupt to fight corruption.

The film raises awareness about provisions like the “Disaster Management Act” and the “Election Commission”, whose powers are not known to most people. For example, the Disaster Management Act gives the legal authority to demolish a dangerous building – facts like these make the film educative and thought-provoking.

However, on the other hand, some critics found certain parts of the film extremely objectionable. In particular, the Vinella Kishore track, which was presented as a comedy, was found very insensitive and offensive by many viewers. The track depicts derogatory behaviour towards women in the name of ‘comedy’, with acts like staring at a woman’s private parts or taking pictures of them being made fun of.

Such scenes not only reflect an unhealthy mindset but also try to normalise violence and molestation of women in society. What is most worrying is that this behaviour is not challenged by any of the characters—no punishment, no shame. The film repeats this attitude again and again as a joke, which is extremely dangerous and disgusting.

Some other aspects of the film have also been questioned—such as the hero’s rise from IPS to IAS and then to the Chief Minister has no solid logic, nor is there any deep reason shown for the heroine leaving and then returning. The music was also disappointing to some, especially the song “DHOP”.

In short, “Game Changer” is a bold attempt that discusses political and legal issues, but has serious flaws in its screenplay and treatment of female characters. As much as the film tries to spread awareness, it also shows insensitivity in some of its scenes.

Movie Public Review

Conclusion

The film “Game Changer” is an impressive political drama that highlights corruption and legal loopholes. Its cinematography, presentation and content are commendable, but the insensitive treatment of female characters and objectionable scenes presented in the name of comedy affect its quality. The film has the potential to raise awareness among the society, but it fails to take responsibility in some parts. If the filmmakers had taken the sensitive issues more seriously, it could have been a powerful and inspiring film. Still, the film presents a subject worth thinking about.