Daaku Maharaaj Review: Balayya shines in this lacklustre fare, Dabidi Dibidi enlives
By : BVS Prakash
Update: 2025-01-12 09:45 GMT
Cast: Balakrishna, Pragya Jaiswal, Bobby Deol, Sachin Kandekar, Shradha Srinath, Satya and Bobby Deol
Direction: Bobby Kolli
Rating: 2/5 stars
Seasoned actor Balakrishna essays another anger-driven role in ‘Daaku Maharaaj’ but has chosen a contrived and mindless story. Balakrishna as an obedient driver in the first part, keeps the audience guessing about his real-self, after he begins mercilessly killing thugs who are going to harm a girl child. His bonding with the cute girl has some good moments and his slick action sustatains audience interest but once the plot is revealed, the film loses its steam and charm. In simple terms, it is the story of a civil engineer who is master building dams and provides water to parched towns, is forced to take up arms against mighty Thakurs in Madhya Pradesh. Hence, the pain and anguish of villagers in Sambhal village and their suffering without even a drop of water looks more forced than real. Apparently, the second half moves at snail’s pace and tests viewers' patience and is bound to disappoint Nandamuri fans. Director Bobby relied on transforming an educated government official into a saviour but it has its limitations because the whole thing happens in an 'alien' zone and is difficult to connect with Telugu viewers. He has captured a few captivating action episodes but it is not enough. No doubt, the much trolled and lewd song 'Dabidi Dibidi' comes at the right time and peps up the mood of the audience, otherwise in this fictional and boring tale.
Balakrishna is shown burning down materials in hill station and facing numerous goons with his swag and style. Cut to a girl child traveling in a car with her dog in a tea estate . As she follows her pet dog, the dog ventures into a room where animal poachers are having a meeting and the dog is killed. She along with her grandfather(Sachin Kandekar) lodges a complaint and the thug is arrested. Now, local MLA (Ravi Kishan) is pissed off since his brother is in jail and warns Sachin. Now, arrives a middle-aged driver(balakrishna) who assures to protect the girl and their bonding is nice. Now, Ravi Kishan is killed by the Bobby Deol team who have come here to restore their drug plantations in the coffee estate. Balakrishna kills all of them and now his flashback is revealed.
Balakrishna does another action role and showcases his anger in a few episodes but the unrealistic mars his efforts. Pragya Jaiswal as his lover and wife has a limited role to play, less said that better about Shradhha Srinath. Bobby Deol does another role of a ruthless Thakur who doesn’t mind killing people for his mining but he disappoints with his stiff expressions. Composer Thaman’s background score compliments the first half, while his ‘Dabidi song’ has some energy.
Director Bobby Kolli who tasted success with ‘Waltair Veerayya’, failed to come up with a relatable plot since even action films need good plot.