Dookudu - Review

Rating : 3.25/5.0

Starcast: Mahesh Babu, Samantha, Brahmanandam, Sonia
Director: Srinu Vaitla
Music: Thaman S

Mahesh Babu’s much-hyped Telugu film ‘Dookudu’ finally released in a record number of theatres all over the world. Mahesh Babu image plus Srinu Vytala direction,who has delivered consistent hits at the box office raised the expectations bar to the sky. Let’s see how the movie fared to the expectations…

Ajay (Mahesh Babu), a sincere police officer on a mission to kill Nayak ( Sonu Sood) a underworld don and his accomplice one time followers of his father Shankar Narayana ( Prakash Raj), a former MLA. Ajay other mission is to keep his ailing father who came out of coma after 14 years happy by showing him the world he visioned when he was MLA. Ajay and his team go through hilarious situations in the process to cover up the things to the liking of his father. How he succeeds in both the missions forms the rest of the story.

Mahesh Babu role and his action is highlight in the film. He excelled both in action and emotional scenes. His comedy timing is perfect and over shadowed big comedians in the movie. The variation he showed in body language between Police officer and MLA is commendable. Overall, it is an energetic performance by Mahesh Babu much to the delight of his fans.

Samanta has nothing to do much except play the role of Mahesh Babu love interest. She is pretty and looked glamorous in songs. Parvathi Melton item song is unimpressive.

Prakash Raj is at his usual best. This role is one among many roles he played. Sonu Sood as underworld don did justice to his selection. Kota, Sayaji Shindey and Supreeth performance is OK.

Real scene stealers are Brahmanandam in Padma Sri role and MS Narayana in wanna be hero Venu role. Their performance is highlight in the movie.

Nasser as boss to Mahesh Babu has less important role. Suman and Naga Babu restricted to couple of scenes in Police chiefs role. Vennela Kishore, Ravi Prakash and Manoj performed well as Mahesh colleagues. Tanikella Bharani, Chandra Mohan, Shiva Reddy, Dharmavarapu Subrahamanyam and many more filled the screen.

Director Srinu Vytla tried his best to blend his trade mark style direction and Mahesh Babu image in right proportion. The film is a two paced film with first half being racy and second half being slow. Screenplay should have better in the second half. Director excelled in handling the comedy scenes as usual.

S S Thaman music is a big letdown. ‘Guruvaram’ and ‘Dethadi’ songs are best while others are not composed well. Very little care was taken on the Picturisation of the songs. Background score and re-recording should have been better.

Cinematography by Guhan is praiseworthy. Action scenes are well composed by Vijay. Costumes are modern and gave stylish look to Mahesh Babu. Production values are high.

Dookudu is out and out commercial film with Srinu Vytla mark comedy. Srinu Vytal screenplay is inspired from his previous movies plus reminds us a bit of Pokiri scenes. Ajay and his family trying various gimmicks and ploys to conceal the truth from Prakash Raj are inspired from Bollywood film ‘Patiala House’. Mahesh Babu high voltage performance with comedy touch, Brahmanadam and MS Narayana comedy are highlights for the film.

The first half of the film and Interval bang is very good. Unfortunately, director failed to maintain the same tempo in second half making it slang. Good songs, a better climax and trimming the movie by at least 20 minutes would have been great for the movie success.

On the whole, ‘Dookudu’ will be liked by Mahesh Babu fans as well as family audience. It is out and out commercial film with Srinu Vytla comedy touch. GO and Watch it…