Hi friends! Today we are talking about Nandamuri Balakrishna's 109th film 'Daku Maharaj', which was released on January 12, 2025 as a Sankranti gift. Directed by Bobby Kolli, this action-drama-thriller starring Balakrishna, Bobby Deol, Shraddha Srinath, Pragya Jaiswal, Urvashi Rautela, Chandni Chowdhury in the lead roles is produced by Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya under the banner of Sitara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas. Made with Thaman S's music and Vijay Karthik Kannan's cinematography, this film has brought Balayya fans as well as mass audiences to the theaters. Did this film really live up to expectations? How are Balakrishna's stylish avatar and Bobby Deol's villainy? Come on, let's get into the details
What is the story?
In 1996, in Madanapalle, Chittoor district, wealthy philanthropist Krishnamurthy (Sachin Khedekar) lives comfortably with his orphaned granddaughter Vaishnavi. Krishnamurthy reports an illegal wildlife trade taking place in his tea estate, which lands local MLA Trimurthulu Naidu (Makarand Deshpande)'s brother Manohar (Rishi) in trouble. The estate is seized, and Trimurthulu threatens Krishnamurthy's family. Meanwhile, Krishnamurthy's servant Govind Gujjar (Ravi Kishan) informs Daku Maharaj alias Sitaram (Nandamuri Balakrishna) who is in Bhopal jail. Sitaram escapes from jail, disguises himself as Nanaji, and joins Krishnamurthy's house as a driver to rescue Vaishnavi. So who is Sitaram? Why did he become Daku Maharaj? What is his relationship with Vaishnavi? What is his conflict with Balwant Singh Thakur (Bobby Deol) in the Chambal region? What are the roles of Nandini (Shraddha Srinath) and Kaveri (Pragya Jaiswal)? All these questions make the story of the film interesting.
How is the movie?
‘Daku Maharaj’ is a sure-fire mass-commercial entertainer, and feels like a Sankranti festival for Balakrishna fans. The first half is guaranteed to have whistles in the theater with Balayya’s entry, action sequences, Thaman’s BGM, and interval bang. Vijay Karthik Kannan’s cinematography and stylish frames give the film a Hollywood touch. However, in the second half, the story becomes predictable and stretched, and the routine climax is disappointing. The Chambal flashback episode and the sandstorm scenes are impressive, but the emotional depth and novelty are lacking. Bobby Deol's villainy is decent, but his screen time is short. Shraddha Srinath and Pragya Jaiswal's roles are impactful, but Urvashi Rautela and Chandni Chowdhury's roles are not very memorable. Overall, Balayya's mass avatar, stylish action, and Thaman's BGM can be enjoyed in the theater, but those expecting a new story and intense drama may be disappointed.
How did the actors do?
Nandamuri Balakrishna excelled in dual roles as Sitaram and Daku Maharaj. His intensity in the action scenes and controlled performance in the emotional scenes brought the film to life. His mass dialogues and screen presence will keep the fans entertained. Bobby Deol impressed in his Telugu debut as Balwant Singh Thakur, but the scope and screen time for his character was disappointing. Shraddha Srinath gave a deep performance as Nandini, her scenes provide an emotional connect. Pragya Jaiswal impressed with her screen presence as Kaveri, but her role is limited in the second half. Urvashi Rautela's SI role is not enough with its comic and glamorous touch. Chandni Choudhary, Shine Tom Chacko, Ravi Kishan are decent in supporting roles, but their characters lack depth.
How is the technical work?
Vijay Karthik Kannan's cinematography is the biggest asset of the film. The Chambal Valley, Madanapalle locations, and sandstorm sequences are visually stunning. Thaman S's background score takes the mass elevation scenes to the next level, but the songs are so-so. Niranjan Devaramane and Ruben's editing is sharp in the first half, but feels stretched in the second half. V. Venkat's action choreography and Avinash Kolla's production design give a high-budget vibe. The Telugu dialogues (Bhanu-Nandu) are punchy, but some seem overboard.
About the direction?
Bobby Kolli, after 'Walter Veeraiah', succeeded in delivering a stylish actioner with Balayya. His plan of showing Balakrishna as Sitaram and Daku Maharaj with variations and creating mass elevation scenes worked out well. The interval block, Chambal sandstorm scenes, and Thakur Palace episode were cinematically impressive. But, the lack of novelty in the story, the pace drop in the second half, and the routine climax were the flaws in his writing. The film would have been even better if the focus had been on emotional connect and character development. Overall, Bobby gave a feast to the mass audience, but the depth in the storytelling was missing.
Hits:
Balakrishna's dual role, mass performance, punchy dialogues
Vijay Karthik Kannan's cinematography, stylish visuals
Thaman S's background score, elevation scenes
Interval bang, Chambal sandstorm, Thakur Palace scenes
Shraddha Srinath, Pragya Jaiswal's emotional roles
What's missing:
Stretchy, predictable story in the second half
Lack of scope for Bobby Deol, Urvashi Rautela's roles
Routine climax, lack of emotional depth
Lack of impact of songs
Some characters (Shine Tom Chacko, Chandni) are wasted
Final word:
'Daku Maharaj' is a mass feast for Balakrishna fans, stylish action, Thaman BGM, and Vijay Karthik's visuals will blow whistles in the theater. However, the predictable story, second half lag, and lack of novelty have kept the film at an average level. This 147-minute film is the best choice for the mass audience and Balayya fans during the Sankranti season. But, those expecting a new story and intense drama should lower their expectations. Streaming on Netflix from February 21, 2025, this film can be enjoyed more with a theater vibe
Recommendation: This film is best for those who like Balayya mass action, stylish visuals, and high-energy entertainers. There is some violence and mass dialogues, so family audiences should be a little careful. Great to enjoy in the theater with friends!
Rating: 3/5