Ravi Teja in Telugu film ‘Dhamaka’
When a rogue businessman JP (Jayaram) makes a smart-sounding statement, a character asks him if he is related to famed writer and director Trivikram Srinivas. This is probably closest to the makers blast especially to acknowledge the influence of the films of Trivikram Srinivas Ala Vaikunthapremulu, The presence of actors Jairam and Sachin Khedekar adds to that hangover. Director Trinadha Rao Nakkina, who shares writing credits with Prasanna Kumar Bezwada, presents a story that involves two families – a middle-class and an uber-rich business family – and places Ravi Teja in both, opposite portray personalities to fit in. Mass’ and ‘Class’ mold.
The film doesn’t take itself too seriously and we shouldn’t either. It is content to showcase an energetic Ravi Teja in two avatars – businessman Anand and a job-seeking Swami. At the end of 2022, a time when we look back and take stock of new narratives in Telugu cinema, blast Proof that a section of filmmakers are happy to serve the same old wine in the same old bottle.
Nanda Gopal Chakraborty (Sachin Khedekar) announces to the world that a change is in order for his business empire as his days are numbered. JP (Jayaram), a business shark, is waiting to pounce on him. The actor’s introduction scene where he has to display a turnaround is not surprising considering how weakly written it is.
The only sliver of imaginative writing (we can call it that if we set the bar really low) comes in the form of Ravi Teja’s dual portrayal. Swamy gleefully sees his parents (Tanikella Bharani and Tulsi) on a video call, and his first meeting with his sister’s friend Pranavi (Sri Leela) as he takes on the rowdies. This is the position of a distressed woman. There’s a reason why she asked for his help and why she addressed him in a certain way. But Swami demands that she reconsider how she addressed him and instead sends her some flirtatious messages if he is to save her. One can argue that Swami may not have the sensibilities or is extremely sexually sensitive. But watch this scene after an important reveal before intermission and it feels out of character. Ravi points out the age difference between Teja and Mr. Leela and sticks out like a sore thumb. This is not the first Telugu film and certainly not the last where an established male actor romances a man half his age, but it is brilliant.
blast
Cast: Ravi Teja, Sri Leela, Rao Ramesh, Jairam
Direction: Trinadha Rao Nakkina
Music: Bhims Ceciroello
A good part of the first part is devoted to drawing the contrast between Swami and Anand. Pranavi realizes that she likes both Swami and Anand and her mother (Rajasree Nair) tells her to have a conversation with both of them and then make up her mind. Her father (Rao Ramesh), of course, would have none of it.
Some scenes in this absurdist-comedy segment entertain, especially the exchange between Rao Ramesh and his driver, essayed by Hyper Aadhi, who gets the funniest lines in the film. Chiranjeevi also has a funny thing IndraIn Ravi Teja style. These comic portions and the pre-intermission segment save the film from turning into a complete cheesy mess.
But the later parts get progressively boring. The parts of the long-running corporate war required sharp writing to show business strategies and one-off insults. We get none of these. Jayaram is reduced to a caricatured antagonist and we can see from a mile who could be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
The audience is also not expected to ask clear questions. For example, why Sachin Khedekar, who is presented as the head of a business empire with no skeletons in his closet, never used his clout to get the police or political clout to protect him. Does it? The film also makes use of do-to-death tropes involving the safety of the hero’s family members. Though a lot is at stake, he never fails to err on the side of caution.
There are also lame ‘punch’ lines – ‘If I see a villain in you, you’ll see a hero in me’, ‘If you try to be a hero, you’ll see a wild villain in me’…
At one point when Ravi Teja confronts the gangsters, he questions the existence of nepotism in hooliganism and claims that he is self-made. Point noted. But next time maybe he can choose a better script. blast Has some amusing scenes and is worth watching in comparison to his recent films. But this is not a measure to celebrate.