Having wowed and impressed with his riveting performances in films such as Pokiri, Bommarillu and Brindavanam, popular actor Prakash Raj turns director, too, with Dhoni. A poignant film, it handles with élan the topical theme of a grade-obsessed education system.

Barring a few snail-paced and predictable scenes, the director holds interest by dwelling on the father-son bonding and also explores the angle of how schools and parents put undue pressure on kids to excel in academics by undermining their other skills.

Prakash Raj also scores as an actor by breathing life into the role of a middle-class widower — a government employee who takes care of his son and daughter by selling pickles for a few extra bucks, who cannot tolerate his son’s (Akash) lack of interest in studies and obsession for cricket.

He even ignores advices of the coach and seeks a ban on telecast of matches and cricketers, apprehensive that they influence impressionable minds. However, when he beats his son, who slips into coma, the father gradually realises that ‘arithmetic’ is not the only education a child needs. Any ‘special skill’ exhibited by children should be discovered and promoted, he figures out.

Making a scathing attack on the education system on a TV show, he becomes a public hero overnight and eventually seeks an assurance from the Chief Minister to reduce the book-driven load on kids. Akash, son of director Puri Jaganath, impresses with his portrayal of the Class IX student, while Radhika Apte, of Raktha Charitra fame, is just about okay.

After producing a touching film in Akasamantha, which dabbled with the father-daughter bonding, producer-director Prakash Raj this time explores the father-son relationship, and the ensuing clash of interests. Although a touch preachy and verbose, the core emotion of the film could connect with families.