Banner: Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Cinemas
Cast: Nani, Keerthy Suresh, Dheekshith Shetty, Samuthirakani, Shine Tom Chacko, Sai Kumar, Poorna and others
Dialogues: Thota Srinivas
Music: Santhosh Narayanan
Director of Photography: Sathyan Sooryan
Editor: Navin Nooli
Production Designer: Avinash Kolla
Stunts: Real Satish, Anbariv
Producer: Sudhakar Cherukuri
Written and Direction: Srikanth Odela
Release Date: March 30, 2023
Natural Star Nani is one of the most talented actors in Tollywood.He is known for picking up interesting stories and challenging himself with versatile roles.
He has now attempted a never before role for ‘Dasara’.Nani had never spoken so confidently about a film or toured across India to promote it before ‘Dasara.’ The film has received a lot of attention in recent weeks.Nani’s promotion of the film gave the impression that it would be a major milestone.Is it really that good?
Directed by Srikanth Odela, Dasara is a rustic Telangana-based village drama.Keerthy Suresh played the leading lady and the music composed by Santosh Narayanan is a massive hit.Sudhakar Cherukuri’s SLV Cinemas are the producers and the film is hitting the screens today.
Story:
Set in the 1990s in a village called Veerlapally in the Singareni coal mine area, the film begins with the story of three childhood friends, Dharani (Nani), Soori (Deekshith Shetty), and Vennela (Keerthy Suresh).
The villagers are always drinking and spend most of their time at Silk bar.Local politics between Rajanna (Saikumar), Shivanna(Samuthirakani) and the latter’s son Chinna Nambi (Shine Tom Chacko) threaten to disrupt their lives.
What effect does a political leader’s game plan have on the lives of the three friends?
Performances :
Nani is back on the big screen after Ante Sundaraniki.It shows how effortlessly he slips into different parts.
His role in Dasara couldn’t have been any more contrasting.From the first frame until the end, Nani stays in character and breathes it.He’s lucky it has a perfect mixture of action, comedy, and drama.He nails them all perfectly.
The action blocks, whenever they appear, are done with superb intensity.The only problem here is that the character doesn’t get elevated to the next level despite all the positivity.
It is a sincerely done part that deserves all the praise, but simultaneously it lacks the iconic appeal.Keerthy Suresh, too goes for a drastic makeover with Dasara.
She is also good and shares neat chemistry with Nani.She is integral to the narrative and does well whenever the opportunity arises.
Analysis :
Debutant Srikanth Odela directs Dasara.Coming from school of Sukumar, he has picked a raw and rustic tale and setting for his first attempt.
The immediate thing registering in everyone’s mind as Dasara begins is the village of Veerlapally.The people, their habits and daily lives are neatly presented.
Srikanth Odela takes his time but ensures one is immersed in the world.It helps set Dasara apart from similar big-budgeted rugged attempts from Telugu cinema in recent years.
Dasara mainly focuses on the trio, Dharani, Vennela and Suri.Their journey involving friendship and love and the politics surrounding them constitute the narrative.
The former consumes much of the movie’s first half, with short bursts of political drama related to local body elections etc., thrown in.The interval is sure to come as a huge shocker to many.It isn’t something we usually see in Telugu cinema every day, hence the impact.
The execution is slick, highlighting the craftsmanship of the newcomer director.It raises hopes for the second half big time.
Nothing changes in the second half, and we realise what the movie is truly about within the first fifteen minutes.A scene at that point reveals the critical elements related to the interval and ends the little suspense.
A good scene is followed by a few that lacks excitement.Finally, the whole drama is built towards the climax, which is thrillingly handled.Overall, Dasara offers terrific visuals and performances that make it worth a watch.
Technical Excellence:
The film’s cinematography is the first thing that stands out because the film is entirely set in a coal mine.The dark color palette of the color scheme works so well with Sooryan’s imaginative camera work.
The music by Santosh Narayanan yields mixed results.
The production design is flawless, and the production values are excellent.The dialogues are neat.
Highlights:
Nani and Keerthy Suresh performances Interval and climax scenes
Drawback:
Slow pace Predictable sequences
