BOTTOM LINE
Not So Wild, But Watchable Thriller
OUR RATING
2.5/5
CENSOR
2h 9m, “U/A” Certified
What Is the Film About?
Wild Dog is based on true incidents that rocked parts of Pune and Hyderabad in mid-2000. How a team headed by NIA agent Vijay Varma (Nagarjuna) hunts down the mastermind behind the terror activities are what the movie is all about?
How Is ‘s Performance?
King Akkineni Nagarjuna is back with another versatile choice regarding the character. He plays an NIA agent in Wild Dog. The look and design of the role are vastly different from anything we have seen the star do. However, the attitude remains the same. The aggression is dialled a notch above than usual but in an urban way.
The grey hair, clean-shaven look with a bit of scar on the face gives a raw and real appeal to Akkineni Nagarjuna. The star, however, dominates the proceedings in a different way than the usual.
Direction by Ahishor Solomon?
Ahishor Solomon debut as a director with Wild Dog. Right from the title’s naming to the actual content, we see a different approach to avoiding the typical commercial clichés. However, Wild Dog isn’t devoid of them and comes with its set of problems for the genre it picks.
Wild Dog belongs to the spy thriller genre, where the focus is on the extraction of the criminal ‘after’ an incident has been committed. It is not about thwarting the plans of evil mastermind. One has to view Wild Dog with this basic thing in mind.
The director wastes no time getting to the point. Within minutes of the opening of the film, we get into the thick of things. There is no space for emotions here. They are merely a blip in the narrative where the focus is more on the mission.
Vijay Varma is brought on board to lead an impossible mission to grab the terrorist who is responsible for the blasts.
Wild Dog can be divided into a few segments. This easy division is a problem and has a significant role in giving the movie a formulaic feeling. The different blocks are assembling the team, finding the person behind the blasts and finally getting him back.
The first half of Wild Dog is about zeroing in on the criminal behind the attacks. The narrative involves all the clichés associated with the genre to get to the point. The good thing here is that there is no deviation, and the director goes about his way, not amping-up the commercial aspects.
However, the lack of team building and one-man show like progress of the narrative doesn’t let the script rise above the predictability.
The second half is better in comparison, but it is so due to the situations that the team finds in. There is a lot of scope to provide thrills. However, the two key blocks (MP house episode and combing operation in the forest) are again executed flatly without giving the exhilarating experience.
One of the primary reasons for the same is having seen much content in a similar space where there is better work. It can’t be ignored because the target audience is the same set. Merely attempting something different or something that is not done before for an audience is not enough; it has to be the best offering as well.
The climax is okay. There is an attempt to give a twist, but it doesn’t come out with the bang one expects it to have.
Overall, Wild Dog is a sincere attempt following all the rules in the book for the genre. However, the flat execution without many thrills hampers the enjoyment. To those who love the genre, Wild Dog offers nothing new. But, if you haven’t seen much in this space, it could be a watchable fare.
Dia Mirza, Saiyami Kher and Others?
Wild Dog is not about the hero-heroine in a typical sense. Dia Mirza plays the wife role to the lead, but she has minimal scenes and presence. Saiyami Kher is better in that regard. She arrives in the second half but has some kick-ass moments. However, it is also relegated to the back seat, alter.
Apart from Nagarjuna and Saiyami Kher, the only other actor who gets a decent character sketch is Atul Kulkarni. He is adequate as usual. The rest of the parts are essayed by relatively unknown faces. They fit the role, and that’s it about them.
Music and Other Departments?
There are no songs in the movie. The entire film runs on the background score. S Thaman has done a decent job here, especially when it comes to action scenes. The cinematography by Shaneil Deo is neat. It gives a unique texture to the movie. The editing is alright. The writing is weak and one of the significant reasons for the flat feeling.
Highlights?
Crisp Runtime
BGM
Casting
Drawbacks?
Flat Narration
No Thrill or High
No Team Work
Alternative Take
Better writing with some stand out characterisations for the supporting parts, along with the hero, would have elevated the same subject.
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, in Parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but With Reservation
Wild Dog Movie Review by Siddartha Toleti
— Vijay’s combing operation comes to an end. Visit back for our detailed review soon.
— After a couple of action episodes and drama the covert operation is heading towards the climax.
— Saiyami Kher wntees the show as a RAW agent Arya.
— Vijay has a plan to nab the terrorist hiding in Nepal. The NIA team’s unofficial covert operation ‘Wild Dog’ begins.
First Half Report:
The first half of the movie sticks to the narrative without any deviation and keeps one hooked. But, it lacks the real highs or edge of the seat thrills.
— Wild Dog story now shifts to Nepal. Interval.
— Vijay and his team is making swift progress in John’s Bakery, Pune bomb blast case.
— Vijay Varma popularly known as Wild Dog is back to NIA to lead the case.
— The movie opens with a bomb blast. Government is under pressure wants to assign the case to NIA.
— Wild Dog show started. Title cards are interesting, setting a serious tone.
Preview: Wild Dog
Among the senior stars in Tollywood, Nagarjuna definitely has a place of his own like others and in his space, he keeps experimenting with new subjects. This time, he is playing an encounter specialist, an NIA officier who is after terrorists. How was he in his play?
Well, the trailer has loads of promises and here is the movie for us to watch and see if the promise is kept, perfectly. It’s testing time for debut director Ashishor Solomon who has written the story as well. Nag was inriguing in the trailer we saw and hope, the director sustained the same thoughout the movie.
This movie majorly depends on the tone of the narrative, without overdoing the terrorists activities and connecting with the emotions even though action might be playing the major role. We are eager to know how the rare attempt in Tollywood turned out to be.
The background score by Thamna in the trailer was terrific and therefore we are postive that it’s going to be the same and elevate the movie to the next level. If everything was in place as per the things till now, ‘Wild Dog’ will be a big success for Nag and the debut director.
So, it’s time to see the final output of the rare attempt and therefore, mirchi9 tema will be back with a genuine ‘Wild Dog’ review and till then, stay with us, folks!
