Shekar (film)
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Shekar
| image = Shekar (film) poster.jpeg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Jeevitha Rajashekar
| producer = Beeram Sudhakara Reddy
Shivani Rajasekhar
Shivathmika Rajasekhar
Boggaram Venkata Srinivas
| story =
| writer = Lakshmi Bhupala
| screenplay = Jeevitha Rajashekar
| based_on = {{Based on|Joseph|Shahi Kabir}}
| starring = Dr. Rajasekhar
Athmiya Rajan
| cinematography = Mallikarjun Naragani
| editing =
| music = Anup Rubens
| studio = Pegasus Cinecorp LLP
Taurus Cinecorp
Sudhakar Impex IPL
Tripura Creations
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2022|5|20}}
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Telugu
| budget =
}}
Shekar is a 2022 Indian Telugu-language thriller film{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/050221/rajasekhar-to-don-uniform-again-shekhar-is-an-investigative-thriller.html|title=Rajasekhar to don uniform again Shekhar is an investigative thriller|work=Deccan Chronicle|date=5 February 2021 }} directed by Jeevitha Rajashekar. A remake of the Malayalam film Joseph (2018), the film stars Dr. Rajashekar and Athmiya Rajan, who reprises her role from the original. This film marks Jeevitha's return to direction after a break.{{cite web | url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/291121/jeevitha-returns-to-directing-with-shekar.html | title=Jeevitha returns to directing with 'Shekar' | first=Sashidhar | last=Adivi | newspaper=Deccan Chronicle | date=29 November 2021 | accessdate=1 May 2022 }}
Plot
A retired police officer with adept investigative skills, gets involved in a crime case after his ex-wife's unexpected demise.
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Dr. Rajashekar as Shekar
- Athmiya Rajan as Indu, wife of Shekar
- Muskaan Khubchandhani
- Shivani Rajashekar as Shekar's daughter{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/rajashekar-and-daughter-shivani-in-jeevitha-rajashekars-telugu-film-shekar/article64825427.ece|title=All in the family for 'Shekar'|date=11 January 2022|work=The Hindu}}
- Kishore as Mallikarjun
- Posani Krishna Murali
- Sameer
- Abhinav Gomatam
- Bharani Shankar
- Shravan Raghavendra
- Ravi Varma Adduri as Shekar's friend
- Prakash Raj as an advocate (cameo appearance)
}}
Production
The film was initially announced with newcomer Lalith as the director. The film is the first time Rajasekhar is in a film with both his wife Jeevitha and daughter Shivani.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2022/jan/10/rajasekhar-shivani-team-up-for-shekar-28924.html|title=Rajasekhar, Shivani team up for Shekar|work=Cinema Express|date=10 January 2022}}
Soundtrack
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| all_lyrics =
| all_music = Anup Rubens.
| headline = Sekhar Soundtrack
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Love Gante
| lyrics1 = Chandra Bose
| length1 = 04:09
| extra1 = Vijay Prakash, Anup Rubens, Revanth
| title2 = Kinnera
| lyrics2 = Ananta Sriram
| length2 = 04:38
| extra2 = Armaan Malik
| title3 = Chinni Chinni Praanam
| lyrics3 = Ramajogayya Sastry
| length3 = 5:13
| extra3 = Chinmayi, Hymath Mohammed, Haripriya
| title4 = Satyam Shivam Sundharam
| lyrics4 = Ramajogayya Sastry
| length4 = 04:23
| extra4 = Vijay Yesudas, Uma Neha
| total_length = 22:25
}}
Release
The film was scheduled to release on Sankranthi but was delayed and released on 20 May 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2022/may/17/rajasekhar20dr-rajasekhars-91st-film-shekharscreens-on-may-20-2454351.html|title=Rajasekhar 2.0: Dr Rajasekhar's 91st film, Shekhar screens on May 20|work=Cinema Express|date=17 May 2022|first=Murali|last=Krishna C. H.}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2022/jan/03/dr-rajasekhars-sekhar-joins-sankranthi-race-28783.html|title=Dr Rajasekhar's Sekhar joins Sankranthi race|website=Cinema Express |date=3 January 2022}}
Following the film's release, financer A. Parandhama Reddy approached the city civil court in Hyderabad, and petitioned that Jeevitha and Rajashekar have failed to repay the loan of {{INR}}65 lakh. As the makers failed to repay payback the loan within the given deadline, the court halted the screening of film on 22 May 2022, attaching its world negative rights. Actor Rajasekhar responded through Twitter that "some people have conspired and stopped our film from screening."{{Cite web |last=Krindinti |first=Ashok |date=2022-05-22 |title=కోర్టు ఆదేశాలతో 'శేఖర్' సినిమాకు బ్రేక్.. రాజశేఖర్ ఎమోషనల్ పోస్ట్ |url=https://telugu.samayam.com/telugu-movies/cinema-news/city-civil-court-orders-to-stop-hero-rajasekhar-movie-sekhar-in-theaters-due-to-financial-issues/articleshow/91723477.cms |access-date= |website=Samayam Telugu |language=te}} As of 24 May 2022, the court allowed the screening of the film.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/court-permits-the-screening-of-jeevithas-shekar/articleshow/91762179.cms|title=Court permits the screening of Jeevitha's 'Shekar'|date=24 May 2022|work=The Times of India}}
Reception
Prakash Pecheti of Telangana Today wrote that "Though Shekar does vary from the Malayalam {{sic|styke}} of making, the Telugu version is a stimulating drama. Jeevitha deftly steers the film to perfection by staying true to the original".{{Cite web|url=https://telanganatoday.com/rajasekhar-plays-his-age-and-scores-a-hit-with-shekar-movie|title=Rajasekhar plays his age, and scores a hit with 'Shekar' Movie|date=20 May 2022|work=Telangana Today|last=Pecheti|first=Prakash}} Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu opined that "Shekar is a detour from the norm for Telugu cinema and is an earnest attempt. If only it had more spark in the performances and better music".{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/shekar-movie-review-this-slow-burn-crime-drama-has-its-moments/article65439029.ece|title='Shekar' movie review: This slow-burn crime drama has its moments|work=The Hindu|date=20 May 2022|last=Dundoo|first=Sangeetha Devi}} Thadhagath Pathi of The Times of India stated that "the film manages to hold its own despite a few tweaks, sticking to the soul of the original".{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/shekar/movie-review/91688551.cms|title=Shekar Movie Review by The Times of India|date=20 May 2022|last=Pathi|first=Thadhagath|work=The Times of India}} A critic from 123telugu said that "On the whole, Shekar is an emotional thriller that has a decent premise and able performances. The storyline is good but the needed thrills and slow pace are slightly missing. If you ignore these factors, Shekar ends up a passable watch this weekend".{{Cite web|url=https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/shekar-telugu-movie-review.html|title=Review : Shekar – Slow but watchable|date=21 May 2022|work=123telugu}}