Mazaka Stumbles with Cringe Comedy and a Weak Plot

Director: Trinadha Rao Nakkina

Rating: 2/5 stars

The premise of Mazaka—a father and son falling in love simultaneously with two different women—sounds intriguing on paper. However, the film quickly loses its charm due to excessive twists and an over-reliance on cringe comedy. While the initial exchanges between the father (Rao Ramesh) and son (Sundeep Kishan)—discussing love, writing letters, and teasing each other—bring some freshness, the humor soon overstays its welcome, becoming repetitive and predictable.

Rao Ramesh outshines Sundeep Kishan in many scenes with his distinct mannerisms and sharp dialogue delivery, though Sundeep does have his moments. Unfortunately, the flimsy plot, centering on their respective lovers refusing to coexist under one roof, lacks depth. The second half spirals into chaos, with forced humor—particularly Hyper Aadhi’s exaggerated comedy at a wedding and Murali Sharma’s confused character—taking precedence over storytelling.

Ritu Varma is wasted in an underdeveloped role, with her character falling for Sundeep after he saves her in a cliché-ridden sequence. Meanwhile, Manmadhudu fame Anshu makes a comeback and delivers a mature performance. However, the ongoing rivalry between the two female leads lacks a solid foundation, relying on petty quarrels rather than genuine conflict.

The film opens with a dramatic shot of two unconscious men on the shore—later revealed to be Rao Ramesh and Sundeep Kishan, a father-son duo, grappling with the loss of their mother. Their struggle to find a female presence in their household leads to unusual romantic pursuits. Rao Ramesh attempts to woo Anshu, an office visitor applying for a U.S. visa, while Sundeep tries to win over a college student (Ritu Varma). Despite their desperate efforts, both women reject them, setting the stage for a series of humorous yet predictable attempts to win their hearts.

Coming off his intense role in Raayan, Sundeep Kishan shifts gears to showcase his comedic side but chooses a script with clear limitations. Rao Ramesh, known for impactful roles in Aravinda Sametha and Atharintiki Daaredi, shines in a more playful avatar. Murali Sharma and Hyper Aadhi do justice to their roles but don’t elevate the film.

Director Trinadh Rao Nakkina, fresh from the success of Dhamaka, stumbles with a weak script and inconsistent screenplay. While his intent was to deliver a fun-filled entertainer, Mazaka is riddled with loopholes. Ironically, a police officer in the film (played by Ajay) warns the protagonists that if their story is too predictable, they’ll be jailed. True to his word, the film unfolds with unnecessary twists rather than a compelling narrative—perhaps deserving the same fate as its characters.