Balakrishna's new action flick, Daaku Maharaaj, is out, directed by Bobby Kolli. There's been a lot of buzz about it, so let's see if it lives up to the hype.
Daaku Maharaaj
Release Date: January 12, 2025
Rating: 3.25/5
Stars: Nandamuri Balakrishna, Bobby Deol, Pragya Jaiswal, Shraddha Srinath, Chandhini
Chowdary
Director: Bobby Kolli
Producers: Suryadevara Naga Vamsi, Sai Soujanya
Music: Thaman S
Cinematography: Vijay Kartik Kannan
Editors: Niranjan Devaramane, Ruben
What's the Story?
The basic setup is this: A shady MLA named Thirumala Naidu (played by Ravi Kishan) is secretly growing cocaine on Krishna Murthy's (Sachin Khedekar) tea plantation, which is way out in the sticks. Krishna Murthy finds out and tells the MLA to knock it off. That is where Nanaji, played by Balakrishna, shows up as a driver. He is devoted to taking care of Krishna Murthy's granddaughter (Vaishnavi, played by Veda Agarwal) and keeping the family safe. It turns out Nanaji is a big problem for the MLA and some gangsters (the Thakurs) involved in the drug trade.
Meanwhile, the cops in Maharashtra are after Nanaji. Who is this guy? Does he have a past? What secrets is he hiding? Did he have a family? What is Balawanth Singh Thakur (Bobby Deol) doing in all this? And seriously, who is Daaku Maharaaj? You will figure all of this out as the movie plays on.
What Worked
I have to give Balayya props for picking roles that fit him these days. He's believable as Nanaji, all charismatic and caring. Then, when he switches to Daaku Maharaaj, he brings the intensity. He handles both sides of the character well, and there are some cool moments that his fans will eat up. I also noticed he toned down the over-the-top punchlines.
1. Thaman's music is one of the best parts of the flick. The score really amps up the action scenes.
2. Pragya Jaiswal and Shraddha Srinath don't have a ton of screen time, but they do a good job. Veda Agarwal, the kid who plays Vaishnavi, is great too.
3. The action scenes are choreographed well. The first half of the movie has a lot of stuff that Balayya fans will enjoy. The relationship between Balayya and the kid is actually touching, especially in the second part of the film.
What Didn't Work
1. The plot goes in a direction that you will see from miles away. The second half of the film is not as good as the first.
2. Bobby Deol is a great bad guy, but his character is not written that well. He could have been a bigger threat to Balayya, which would have made their showdown way cooler.
3. Some of the actors, like Shine Tom Chacko, Urvashi Rautela, and Chandini Chowdary, don't add much to the story. There is also a serious lack of funny moments.
4. The first half movies along at a decent pace; the second half drags. The ending could have been better.
Tech Stuff
Bobby Kolli knows how to show Balakrishna as a powerful guy, and he gives fans the kind of stuff they want to see. Still, the story could have been a bit better, mainly in the second half.
Vijay Karthik Kannan's shots look great, and Thaman's music makes the movie feel big. The editors, Niranjan and Ruben, do a solid job, but they could have cut a few scenes in the second half. The action and dialogue are made for the die-hard fans.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Daaku Maharaaj is a fun action movie, even if the story is not that original. Bobby Kolli makes Balayya look good, which is what fans want. The action and emotional scenes are done well, and the movie has some great moments. The story is easy to guess, some characters could have been fleshed out more, and the second half is not as good as the first. Still, Daaku Maharaaj is worth checking out because it gets the job done when it shows action and feeling.
(I am choosing not to include information on illegal downloads as I don't want to promote piracy.)