Keeda Kola is a Telugu crime-comedy film that released in theaters on November 3, 2023 and is streaming on Aaha OTT from December 29, 2023. Written and directed by Tarun Bhaskar Dhasyam and produced under the banner VG Cinema, the film stars Chaitanya Rao Maddi, Rag Mayur, Brahmanandam, Tarun Bhaskar, Jeevan Kumar, Vishnu OI, Ravindra Vijay, and Raghu Ram in lead roles. It has a crisp runtime of 2 hours with music by Vivek Sagar, cinematography by AJ Aaron, editing by Upendra Varma, and production design by Ashish Teja Pulala and is rated U/A. Tarun Bhaskar, who is famous for youthful hits like Pelli Choopulu and Ee Nagarniki Emaindi, is back with a quirky crime comedy this time. The trailer features a cola bottle with a cockroach, strange characters, Guy Ritchie, and a Quentin Tarantino style vibe, raising expectations. How is this movie? Let's see my feelings, highlights, and shortcomings in this review
What's in the story?
Vastu (Chaitanya Rao), suffering from Tourette's syndrome, lives in Hyderabad with his wheelchair-bound grandfather Varadaraju (Brahmanandam) and his friend Lancham alias Maridesh Babu (Raag Mayur). Vastu makes a living as a medical representative and Lancham as a failed lawyer. One day, a cockroach appears in the Keeda cola bottle they bought. Lancham plans to sue the company with the bottle and make crores. On the other hand, Naidu (Tarun Bhaskar), who has been released after serving a 20-year prison sentence, is involved in a money-making scheme with his brother Jeevan (Jeevan Kumar) and his friend Sikandar (Vishnu Oi). This cockroach bottle is part of their plan! How do the CEO of Keeda Cola Company (Ravindra Vijay) and his fixer shots (Raghu Ram) get involved in this conspiracy? How do these gangs clash amidst Barbie doll, kidnappings and comedy twists? That is the story.
My Feelings: Quirky fun, but the story is flat!
When I saw the Keeda Cola trailer, I thought it would be a youthful comedy in the style of Pelli Choopulu, a crazy crime comedy with an eh nagari ekami vibe. The first half was made fun of by Tarun Bhaskar's screen presence, Vishnu Oi-Jeevan's comedy, English dialogues, and film industry spoofs (Barbie doll heroine joke). As a user on X wrote, "Tarun Bhaskar's acting, Vishnu-Jeevan's comedy, Vivek Sagar's music are super!" I agree with the sentiment. Reviews from The Hindu, India Today (3/5), Telugu360 (2.75/5) praised the quirky characters, Vivek Sagar's BGM, cinematography, and funny dialogues. However, reviews from Cinema Express (2.5/5), Film Companion, and NTV criticized the second half for the story drag, logic errors, Brahmanandam's underutilization, and predictable climax. A 7.4/10 rating on IMDb and comments like “Second half rushed, feels like it was cut by 20 minutes” on Reddit show a mixed response. The story is thin, emotionally unconnected, and there are some silly scenes in the second half that are a bit disappointing.
Technical aspects, acting
Technically, Keeda Kola is strong. AJ Aaron’s cinematography and Avinash Shukla’s color grading show the Hyderabad locations with a frenzied, surreal vibe. Vivek Sagar’s BGM gives elevation to the slow-motion scenes and action sequences, but the songs feel like a hindrance to the story. Upendra Varma’s editing is crisp, but the second half feels rushed. Tarun Bhaskar's dialogues (like "Surrender the Battle") are funny and connect with the youth, but the script lacks depth. Ashish Teja's production design is neat even for a low-budget film.
In acting, Tarun Bhaskar (Naidu) is the strength of the film. His screen presence, English dialogues, and pranayama scenes as a reformed criminal who has just returned from prison are the highlights. The Hindu praised his "charismatic performance". Vishnu Oi (Sikander) and Jeevan Kumar (Jeevan) made us laugh with their comedic timing and chemistry. Chaitanya Rao (Vastu) did a neat job as a Tourette's Syndrome character, and Rag Mayur (Britches) was energetic, but their track lacked depth and disappointed. Brahmanandam (Varadharaju) in a full-length role, lacks scope for comedy and seems passive; Film Companion called it a “waste.” Ravindra Vijay (CEO) and Raghu Ram (Shots) as over-the-top villains come across as artificial and flat.
Likes, Dislikes
Likes:
Tarun Bhaskar's performance: Screen presence as Naidu, comedy timing, English dialogues were the highlight.
Vishnu-Jeevan comedy: Sikander-Jeevan track, English scenes made me laugh.
Vivek Sagar's BGM: Elevated the action, slow-mo scenes.
Cinematography: AJ Aaron's camera work created a surreal vibe.
Quirky idea: Cockroach battle, Barbie doll spoof were fresh and connected to the youth.
Dislikes:
Thin story: The script lacked depth and emotional connect, which was disappointing.
Second half rush: Predictable climax, silly scenes dragged.
Brahmanandam Waste: The comedy legend lacks scope and is disappointed with a passive role.
Weak Villains: The roles of CEO and Shots are artificial and flat.
Logical Flaws: Scenes like the surrender battle seem forced and unconvincing.
Who should watch it?
Keeda Kola is a fun watch for Tarun Bhaskar, Vishnu Oi, Chaitanya Rao fans, those who like youthful comedies like Pelli Choopulu, Ee Nagariki Emini, and the youth who enjoy Guy Ritchie and Quentin Tarantino style crime comedies. It has a U/A rating and clean comedy and mild action, so it can be enjoyed in a youth, friends group theater or at Aha. “The movie was fun, there were heavy laughs in the theater,” wrote a user on Reddit, which shows the movie’s vibe. However, those expecting a high-energy comedy like Jati Ratnalu or an intense drama on the level of Pushpa, may find the movie middling and confusing. NTV Review criticized it for “it should have been a screwball comedy, the ideas didn’t sit together.”
Rating: 2.75/5
Keeda Kola impressed with Tarun Bhaskar’s acting, Vishnu-Jeevan’s comedy, Vivek Sagar’s BGM, quirky ideas, and cinematography. However, the thin story, second half rush, Brahmanandam underutilization, weak villains, and logic errors kept the movie a half-success. Tarun Bhaskar starts with a crazy idea, but falls behind in script depth and coherent narration. A watch for those looking for a youthful comedy, but a disappointment for those expecting Pelli Choopulu level impact
Release Date: November 3, 2023 (Theaters), December 29, 2023 (Aha)
Director: Tarun Bhaskar Dhasyam
Cast: Chaitanya Rao, Rag Mayur, Brahmanandam, Tarun Bhaskar, Jeevan Kumar, Vishnu OI, Ravindra Vijay, Raghu Ram
Rating: U/A (Comedy, Crime, Action)