'Dhamaka' A New Netflix Movie Review

'lugu film ‘Dhamaka’ has a story that’s reminiscent of ‘Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo’ and gives it a Ravi Teja style masala treatment.

In Dhamaka, when a shrewd businessman JP (Jayaram) utters a clever statement, one of the characters queries if he is related to acclaimed writer and director Trivikram Srinivas. This could be seen as the closest the film comes to acknowledging the influence of Trivikram Srinivas' works, particularly Ala Vaikunthapuramuloo. Actors Jayaram and Sachin Khedekar's presence heightens the hangover. Director Trinadha Rao Nakkina, who shares the writing credits with Prasanna Kumar Bezawada, presents a tale involving two families - a middle-class family and an uber-rich business family - and places Ravi Teja in both of them, depicting opposite personalities to fit into the 'mass' and 'class' molds.

However, the film doesn't take itself seriously, and neither should the viewers. It is content to showcase a lively Ravi Teja in two roles - businessman Anand and job-seeking Swami. As we look back at the newer narratives in Telugu cinema at the end of 2022, Dhamaka is evidence that some filmmakers are satisfied with serving the same old wine in the same old bottle.

Nanda Gopal Chakravarthy (Sachin Khedekar) announces to the world that his business empire needs to change since his days are numbered. JP (Jayaram), a business shark, is eagerly waiting to pounce on him. The actor's introduction scene, in which he needs to display a turnaround, isn't surprising, given how weakly it is written.

The only bit of imaginative writing (if we set the bar low enough to call it that) comes in the form of Ravi Teja's dual portrayals. Swami takes rowdies to task, as his parents (Tanikella Bharani and Tulasi) watch gleefully over a video call. His first meeting with his sister's friend Pranavi (Sree Leela) is cringe-inducing, as it is a damsel-in-distress scenario. There is a reason why she seeks his help and why she addresses him in a certain way. Still, Swami demands that she reconsider how she addresses him and instead send him a few flirtatious messages if he is to save her. One might argue that Swami's sensibilities may not be 'woke' or particularly gender-sensitive. Still, when we look back at this scene after a crucial pre-intermission reveal, it appears out of character. The age difference between Ravi Teja and Sree Leela is noticeable and jarring. While it is not the first Telugu film, nor will it be the last, where an established male actor romances someone half his age, it is glaring.

A significant part of the first half is spent distinguishing between Swami and Anand. Pranavi discovers that she likes both Swami and Anand, and her mother (Rajshri Nair) asks her to interact with both of them before making up her mind. Her father (Rao Ramesh) will have none of it, of course.

Some of the scenes in this absurd-comedy segment are entertaining, particularly the exchanges between Rao Ramesh and his driver, played by Hyper Aadhi, who gets the wittiest lines in the film. There is also a fun nod to Chiranjeevi's Indra, in Ravi Teja's style. These comic portions and the pre-intermission segment save the film from being a total lackluster mess.

However, the later portions get increasingly tedious. The prolonged corporate war portions required incisive writing to showcase business strategies and one-upmanship, but we get none of that. Jayaram

Despite Sreeleela's impressive dance moves and short-skirts, the badly written script of 'Dhamaka' is a major hindrance to its flow. While the songs provide some relief, they ultimately interrupt the storyline. The action scenes are a high point for fans of the genre, but the dialogue tends to be artificial and overboard. The attempted spoof of popular scenes from old films and the Indra-inspired scenes of Rao Ramesh and Ravi Teja fall flat and act as mere fillers.

The supposedly smart and intelligent villain is shown being easily fooled, but this plot point isn't convincingly executed and ultimately weakens the story. The predictability of the plot and scenes only add to the disappointment. However, the production values of the film are impressive.

In summary, 'Dhamaka' is a run-of-the-mill commercial potboiler with no surprises or thrills. While Sreeleela's dance performances provide a treat for the eyes, the film overall leaves much to be desired.