Dhamaka Review – Old-Fashioned Cracker

BOTTOM LINE
Old-Fashioned Cracker

OUR RATING
2.25/5

CENSOR
2h 19m, UA

What Is the Film About?
Anand Chakravarthy (Ravi Teja) is the son of a wealthy parent running a company called People Mart. Swamy (Ravi Teja) is from a middle-class background. The movie’s basic story is about a corporate giant and what happens when it decides to take over People Mart. The dual identities coming together to fight the corporate shark constitute the overall plot.

Performances
After a brief detour, Ravi Teja is back to his mass swagger in Dhamaka. It presents the star as his fans want, and he does all the usual with the zing and energy one expects from him.

Enough care is taken to present Ravi Teja glamorously and youthfully, which shows on screen. It is critical, given his pairing with a much younger actress. The dual shades variations are predictable, which Ravi Teja breezes through easily.

Sreeleela has a good presence and oozes glamour. She is also fine doing the regular scenes, but when it comes to the typical mass over-the-top action, she is lacking. It is noticeable as Dhamaka is that sort of entertainer requiring the OTT act.

Analysis
Trinadha Rao Nakkina of Cinema Choopistha Mama and Nenu Local fame directs Dhamaka. It is a no-holds-barred and unapologetic mass entertainer from start to end.

If one has seen the previous films from Trinadha Rao Nakkina, one can instantly determine how the proceedings will be. He picks a perfect setting, places the characters, and gives a little tweak to the routine story and subplots to execute the over-the-top moments.

It is why, when it comes to a film like Dhamaka, the individual blocks and the entertainment as a package are more crucial than the story. The attempt to freshen it up a bit feels more like an afterthought or a formality so that the subject can be made in the present times or appeal to the current junta.

But, even on the freshening score, Trinadha Rao Nakkina picks familiar elements that scream old. The corporate backdrop, the confusing comedy, the family drama etc., lack the current upgrade.

It brings us to the all-important entertainment – it works in parts only. The comedy between the lead pair or the family isn’t exciting, but at the same time, they don’t entirely derail the proceedings. They are passable type, add the songs and the action blocks, and one gets a sense of something happening but not fully engaging.

The problem is the overwhelming sense of routineness. The ‘twist’ in the narrative doesn’t help the cause as it leads to more silliness rather than bringing the required elevation to the narrative. We have that around the interval mark, making one look forward to the second half.

The anticipation of what happens next post the twist fizzles out immediately as soon as the second half starts. The idea is silly, and the content takes it to the next level. The scenes go on illogically, which shouldn’t be an issue, but the lack of freshness again turns out to be an obstacle.

The proceedings never miss the pace and race away to the predictable end. Luckily, the climax is one of the movie’s better blocks and helps reduce the negativity a little. It makes the film look like a passable fare after all that happened.

Overall, Dhamaka is a routine commercial entertainer with an outdated vibe, something that could have been made in the 90s. A few entertainment bits and Ravi Teja’s energy save the day. Watch it if entertainment is the only thing you are seeking and have set the right expectations.

Performances by Others Actors
There is a vast casting in Dhamaka besides the main lead pair. We see many known faces like Tanikella Bharani, Sachin Khedekar, Jayaram, Pavitra Lokesh etc., in supporting roles. We have also seen them do the same before. The result is they do the required with ease and carry through the proceedings without particularly standing out in any way.

Music and Other Departments?
Bheems Ciciroleo provides the music to Dhamaka. It has a peppy, mass feel, and a couple of numbers have worked audio-wise. On-screen, too, it is the same case, with two songs being decent and the rest placed neatly without disturbing the flow. The background score is loud but alright.

Karthik Ghattamneni’s cinematography is good. There is a rich look which is also partly enhanced due to the neat production values. The editing is okay. Prasanna Kumar’s writing lacks the spark as a whole. It does the required but in parts.

Highlights?
Few Comedy Blocks
Ravi Teja
Couple Of Songs

Drawbacks?
Outdated Narrative
Predictability

Did I Enjoy It?
In parts

Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but with huge reservations