'Ramarao On Duty' is currently showing at the cinemas. In this section, we are going to review the latest BO release.
Story:
Rama Rao (Ravi Teja), a Mandal Revenue Officer, is known for his controversial ways. His college-time girlfriend Malini (Rajisha Vijayan) crosses paths with him when he is posted somewhere in the Chittoor district. A personal tragedy she shares puts Rama Rao on a path of investigation. What is the investigation about? How does it tie with the larger smuggling mafia in the district? How does the hero untie the knots despite obstacles on his path? Answers to these questions are found as the film progresses.
Analysis:
Writer-director Sarath Mandava, who is a debutant, bases the film on real incidents that have happened in the Telugu States over the decades. The story is set in 1995, when communication facilities were meagre. Even ethical/legal phone tapping was not so easy. How Rama Rao wages a lonely battle against the smuggling mafia in such a scenario makes for an interesting premise.
To the director's credit, he doesn't fill the film with action blocks. The film turns into an investigation action thriller, especially in the second half. The ending introduces a lead to a probable second part, if it is made.
The lead-up to the investigation track is what the first half is about. And the attempt to force an emotional connection between Rama Rao and Malini fails to click. One wonders what the likes of VK Naresh are doing in the film. Arvind Krishna gets to play a character who looks more suspicious than he should.
Each fight has been done by a different stunt master, and none of them give a real high.
Sam CS proves to be an able choice. In an era when film songs have lost their sheen barring exceptions, he dishes out two very good songs in the form of 'Bulbul Tarang' and 'Sottala Buggallo'. The dance choreography is superb as well. On the flip side, 'Naa Peru Seesa' is a big turn-off despite Anveshi Jain's sizzling presence. Sathyan Sooryan's cinematography is average, while Editor KL Praveen divides the film into two uneven halves.
The story looks pretty much dated, especially once you realize that Rama Rao, a Deputy Collector/MRO, starts doing the job of a police. Maybe, he was shown as an MRO to lend a touch of versatility to the character.
A lot of tropes, especially the worried/suspicious wife and worried parent elements, are boring. Nassar plays Rama Rao's father, while Divyansha Kaushik, much as she looks beautiful, doesn't have much to do as the hero's wife. Rajisha as Malini is so-so.
The much-vaunted comeback by Venu Thottempudi is bumpy; the dialogues he gets to mouth are dull. Tanikella Bharani is an ultra-familiar and stock character, while John Vijay and Rahul Ramakrishna don't lend any edgy feeling to the script.
Verdict:
'Ramarao On Duty' is just about okay with strictly average scenes.
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