Dhruva - Movie Review

What's it about:
Dhruva (Ram Charan) is a trainee IPS officer. While he is on probation, along with his group of friends at police academy, he nabs criminals with a different method. While he is on this mission, he finds out that most of frauds happening in medical and pharma field are because of a scientist-businessman named Siddharth Abhimanyu (Aravind Swamy). But Siddharth Abimanyu is not typical evil man; he is suave, intelligent and influential. After Dhruva takes charge as ACP, he takes up the challenge to expose and arrest Siddharth Abhimanyu. But the intelligent scientist checkmates every step that Dhruva takes. Rest of the movie is the cat and mouse game between these – Dhruva and Siddharth Abimanyu.

Analysis:
Remake of director Jayam Raja’s Tamil blockbuster ‘Thani Oruvan’, Ram Charan and Aravind Swamy 'Dhruva' seems to have followed the same story and screenplay of the original but it also has some new elements like the angle of “eight” aka “Asta Digbandhanam”. The story and screenplay of the original movie coupled with the additional screenplay by Telugu writers has so much strength. The twists that are smartly done make us hooked to the screen till the end. Not a single twist makes us believe that this not conveniently placed by the writers.
 
Though the first half takes too much time to set up the story, even then it doesn’t make dull proceeding. But the real strength of the movie is in the game between Charan and Aravind Swamy that happens in the second half. Villain hearing all that hero talks has already been covered in "Nannaku Prematho", still this angle is even more effective here. Indeed this angle was also seen in Korean movie “I Saw The Devil”. While the second half is engaging, the downside of the movie is it is too lengthy. It needs to be trimmed in the first half. Some scenes should have been crispy. 

After playing similar kind of roles, Ram Charan has got to play a completely different role of a smart police officer. Charan seems to have put in lot of hard work. It has paid off well. This is a good makeover for him.

But it is Aravind Swamy who steals the thunder. In an author backed role of a highly-intelligent evil person, the good-looking and suave Aravind swamy seems to have enjoyed performing it. In one word, he is terrific. His performance makes the movie more enjoyable. Entire second half works due to his style and performance.

Rakul is glamorous, yet the same time has character of substance. She played the role of Ishika. Navadeep, Posani and other cast members are impressive too.

Right from the beginning, it has slickness in every frame. Surender Reddy, who is known for stylish narration, has made the movie look rich and glossy. Cinematographer P S Vinod has filmed it stunningly. The action episodes are classy too. Art work and production design is striking. Background score is a bit loud but the two songs "Neetone…" and "Pareshanu Raa" equally good. The placing of "Pareshanu Raa" song is bad.

Vema Reddy’s dialogues are apt. Though this is the first time that director Surender Reddy has remade a movie, he has succeeded. He seems to be remained faithful to the original movie and there is also his touch in many sequences. As a diirector Surender Reddy has shown his mark in filming 'Golconda' sequence, the Moharram episode and the 'Asta Digbandanam' angle.

Bottom-line: ‘Dhruva’, the remake of Tamil hit movie, is an engaging and intelligent action drama. The screenplay is terrific and the game between Aravind Swamy and Ram Charan make the movie a thrilling watch. Surender Reddy has packaged it stylishly but length is its drawback, though.