Director: Bobby Kolli
Cast: Nandamuri Balakrishna,Pragya Jaiswal, Shraddha Srinath, Bobby deol,
Run Time: 2 hours 27 minutes
Release Date: 12 January 2025
Genre: Action, Drama
Nandamuri Balakrishna teams up with director Bobby Kolli for the first time, a collaboration that has generated immense anticipation among fans. The teaser and trailer cuts have successfully heightened the excitement, setting the stage perfectly for a grand Sankranthi release. But does the film live up to expectations? Let’s find out.
Story
The movie starts in 1996 in Madanapalle, where Krishna Murthy (Sachin Khedekar), a coffee estate owner, faces trouble. One of his estates is being used for illegal activities by the local MLA Trimurthulu’s (Ravi Kishan) brother. Things take a serious turn when the MLA’s brother kills Krishna Murthy’s granddaughter Vaishnavi’s pet, prompting Krishna Murthy to file a case against him.
Angered by this, the MLA targets Krishna Murthy and his family. To protect them, a servant calls Nannaji (Nandamuri Balakrishna), who comes as a driver to safeguard little Vaishnavi. But who is Nannaji? Why does he come as a driver? And who is Daaku Maharaj? To find out, you’ll have to watch the movie!
Performance
Balakrishna delivers a solid performance with his action sequences and trademark dialogues, impressing fans. However, the heroines, Pragya Jaiswal and Shraddha Srinath, have limited screen time, but they do justice to their respective roles with good performances. While their presence is brief, both actresses manage to leave a positive impact. The supporting cast also plays their parts well, adding depth to the story. Overall, the performances of all the actors are commendable, even though some characters could have benefited from more screen time. It’s a well-rounded effort from the entire cast.
Director Bobby Kolli attempts to showcase a familiar storyline with his unique style and visuals. Thaman does a decent job with the background score, though the songs fall short of expectations.
Analysis
The movie kicks off with a strong start, featuring a powerful introduction of Balakrishna, which sets the tone. Visually, it impresses with well-crafted sequences, making it a treat for the eyes. The first half is decent, offering some engaging dialogues and intense fight scenes that keep the audience interested. The interval sequence adds to the elevation, ensuring that the first half has its moments of excitement. The pacing is steady, creating anticipation for what’s to come next.
However, the second half of the film struggles to maintain the momentum. Every scene becomes predictable, and many of the sequences feel like carbon copies from other films, which diminishes the overall impact. The predictability of the storyline tests the viewer’s patience, and by the time the movie reaches its conclusion, it fails to impress. The routine and predictable plot, especially in the second half, ultimately leaves the audience disengaged, making it hard to stay interested till the end.
Verdict
Daaku Maharaj is an average film, worth watching once for Balakrishna’s action and dialogues. Despite a predictable plot and one cringe-worthy song, it offers decent moments. It’s an okay watch for fans of Balakrishna, but doesn’t offer much beyond that.
Rating : 2.5/5
