Popular Telugu star Pawan Kalyan is back with a bang! That is what his film Vakeel Saab, released today suggests.

Coming after a hiatus of three years, Kalyan, according to trade circles as well as fans, has made a grand comeback. Produced by Boney Kapoor, it is a remake of Pink, the 2016 Hindi film. Going by the tweets of Kalyan’s numerous fans, they are happy to see their superstar back on the silver screen.

The original film, written by Ritesh Shah and directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, is about three women, essayed by Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, and Andrea Tariang, who were implicated in a crime. Veteran and popular actor, Amitabh Bachchan, playing the role of a retired lawyer, comes forward to defend and clear the names of these three women.

In the remake Telugu version, Kalyan plays the character essayed by Bachchan. The film is directed by Sriram Venu, writer-director of Oh My Friend fame, with dialogues penned by Trivikram Srinivas. Incidentally, Boney Kapoor also remade Pink in the Tamil language with superstar Ajith, titled Nerkonda Paarvaai.

Vakeel Sahab, shows Pallavi (Nivetha Thomas), Zareena (Anjali) and Divya Naik (Ananya Nagalla) as working women who are roommates in a flat in Hyderabad. Returning home one night after a small celebration, they find the behaviour and demeanour of their cab driver suspicious making them feel unsafe.

It is at that time Vamsi, a politician’s son and Pallavi’s friend, drives in the same direction, and they ask him for a lift. Willingly he gives them a lift and invites them to a party at a resort. The women agree and at the resort, Vamsi tries to molest Pallavi, who in turn hits him with a bottle to save herself. Initially deciding not to file a case against Vamsi, Pallavi is forced to do so when his goons threaten her.

Arrested in an attempt to murder case, it is Satya Dev played by Pawan Kalyan, who decides to help her and the other girls. Interestingly, Dev is a lawyer whose licence is suspended because of his volatile behaviour.

The Telugu version even though a remake of Pink, has stayed more close to its Tamil version with several additions made to obviously appeal to Kalyan’s huge fan following.

Yet, the crux of Pink has been kept intact, that is the engaging court drama and the message that when a woman says no, it means no and nothing more or less! Also, the film stresses that if a woman drinks or wears modern attire or talks and laughs with a man, it is no signal that she is willing to do anything. Just as Pink, Vakeel Saab, stresses that a woman’s consent is vital, even if the man is her boyfriend or husband!

Poster of Pawan Kalyan and Prakash Raj starrer 'Vakeel Saab'

What makes the second half really worthwhile are some fine courtroom exchanges and banter between Kalyan and the veteran actor Prakash Raj as the other lawyer, Nanda.

The long absence has not dulled his star power as displayed by Kalyan through his strong screen presence. Also he plays the role with certain conviction, making it believable and effective. Full points to Prakash Raj who matches strides with Kalyan making their face-off  a treat to watch.

The three main roles of women by Nivetha Thomas,`Anjali and Ananya Nagalla are good but it is Thomas who takes the acting honours.

The film makes a case to change the male gaze while challenging the patriarchal mindset about a woman’s consent.