The theme of a common man rising to become a hero for the society has always been a popular topic in cinema. In the film Sir, directed by Venky Atluri, we see a story loosely inspired by Hrithik Roshan’s Super 30. However, the film’s central theme is powerful enough to stand out on its own.
The film opens in the present, where three students reminisce about an old VCR cassette of their former teacher, Bala (Dhanush). Bala, an assistant teacher, is caught in the chaos of the privatization of education in the 90s. He is left to prove himself in an abandoned government school with no support from his parents or the administration. The story follows how he manages to survive while uplifting underprivileged students.
While the story of a social reformer’s fall and rise is a well-known trope, Venky Atluri manages to present it in a commercially appealing way. Sir may not be an extraordinary film due to some larger-than-life moments, but it holds the audience’s interest with good setups and pay-offs.
Dhanush’s performance is the highlight of Sir. His effortless acting and screen presence make the film enjoyable to watch. The sequences where he comes up with innovative ideas to educate the students are entertaining. Despite the dubbing, a few dialogues create a lasting impact when he speaks about social equality. Samyuktha plays the role of a biology teacher and Dhanush’s counterpart, and she does a decent job. Ken Karunas gives an impressive performance, as do the actors who play the other students. Samuthirakani plays his role effortlessly, and while he doesn’t play a typical villain, he manages to show how menacing he can be in a few scenes. Sir is a film that gets straight to the point, but it could have been even better.
