Move Review | Everything ‘Ravi Teja’ packaged and dialled up to double

Cast: Ravi Teja, Sree Leela, Sachin Khedekhar, Jayaram, Tanikella Bharani, Rao Ramesh, Hyper Aadhi, Kireeti Damaraju

Director: Trinadha Rao Nakkina

Music: Bheems Ceciroleo

Writer: Prasanna Kumar Bezawada

Cinematographer: Karthik Gattamneni

Editor: Prashant Kumar

Dhamaka comes in a long line of made-to-order Ravi Teja films with a plot that tries to outsmart its own screenplay with one twist offered up after another. By all means, it is served up in a glossy, entertaining package with a “fresh” female lead in Sree Leela — who steals the show with her exceptional dance skills and extremely charming screen presence. The action drama is an unapologetic, pumped-up Ravi Teja star vehicle that benefits from great casting, lustrous cinematography and lavish choreography to keep the audience engaged long enough to overlook the otherwise convoluted plot lines that escalate for no other reason than subverting audience expectations of the direction the plot may be heading to.

Anand and Swamy (Ravi Teja) may look alike, but can’t be more different from each other in terms of their personalities and social standing. Anand is the son of a tycoon, played by Sachin Khedekar, keen on fulfilling his father’s dream of a socially viable communist utopia where every employee is also the owner. Swamy, on the other hand, has just lost his job at a diaper manufacturing company right ahead of his sister’s wedding and must struggle to secure a loan to ensure the event goes off without a hitch.

The comedy of errors begins when both of them fall in love with the sweet and affable Pranavi (Sree Leela) who also reciprocates their love without first being aware that they are different persons. However, she catches on very quickly that the two are, in fact, different persons and must come to a conclusion about which one she would like to spend the rest of her life with.

Meanwhile, trouble brews in the background as a vicious industrialist JP (Jayaram) sets his sights on seizing Anand’s company either by coercion or crook. The intersection of these plot lines leads to the explosive revelations behind the identity of the doppelgangers — just as one would expect of a Ravi Teja movie.

Stars are brands in themselves. Thus, every film is packaged in service of the star: showcasing the best they have to offer, while also retaining everything the fans love about their on-screen personas on the whole. Ravi Teja, thankfully, finds himself in familiar territory, rejuvenated in a story that makes good use of his acting range and trademark mannerisms.

If ‘Dhamaka’ were to be judged on the merit of being a Ravi Teja movie alone, then it definitely sticks the landing. One is even tempted to think that the choice of a double-action drama came about so we the audience have a version of Ravi Teja they liked better to pick and choose from, but the film itself remains unsure of which Ravi Teja it favours. Thankfully, it is not the same thing that the overall tone of the film, which makes no pretensions of being an out-and-out entertainer alone.

To its merits, the first half of the movie has been executed very well — particularly for a formula film. The dialogue and banter between characters in the first half will keep the audience engaged. Sree Leela, once again, has set herself apart from the star-studded cast by doing much of the heavy lifting in terms of performance and the multiple dance numbers generously peppered throughout the movie. Rao Ramesh and Hyper Aadhi are hilarious on-screen and nail their delivery every single time.

The film falters in the staging of every other character. A menacing villain is set up and promises potential as a formidable enemy — but fizzles out. So, don’t expect any novel resolutions to the story’s conflict by the end of the movie’s run time. Actor Jayaram rises above the wafer-thin material he has been provided to work with and manages to creep you out every time he appears on screen with his manic energy. Sachin Khedekhar has been criminally underutilised with a stock “father” character, with barely enough time on screen for us to soak up any dimension and depth to his motives.

If you are looking for a good time, then this movie will give you double the dose of Ravi Teja’s mischief with the added flair of a sharp, witty screenplay that never takes itself seriously. Walk into this one with your expectations in check and ‘Dhamaka’ will keep you entertained with its antics.