Nani's costliest project thus far, Dasara hit the theaters today amidst decent anticipation. Being a mass action drama, the film had an instant connect with the masses. Now that the film is out in theaters, here's what we have to say after watching it. 

Story: Set in the coal mines of Godavarikhani, Telangana, Dasara tracks the lives of Dharani(Nani), Vennela (Keerthy Suresh), and Suri (Shetty). It also unveils how the lives of these individuals are affected by the local Sarpanch. 

How did the actors perform?

Nani has breathed life into the character of Dharani. He has undergone a full-fledged transformation for this role and is near unrecognizable from his previous self. His stunning transformation is a key facet of the film. He has emoted pretty well as well. 

Keerthy Suresh too has undergone a good makeover for the film. She too takes the de-glam look to a new level. There rest of the star cast also perform to the best of their capabilities to ensure a good visual experience. 

What about the technical finesse?

The director, Srikanth Odela. despite being a newcomer has developed a rooted and rustic script that demands the very best from a technician. The good thing for him here is that he has the backing of several top-tier technicians. 

The background score by Santosh Narayanan is pretty good. The Chamkeela song is presented very well on screen. The rest of the songs are adequate, not great not ad. The musical score for the climax is out of this world though.

The cinematography by Sathyan Sooryan is the main highlight of the film. The way he takes the viewers into the world of Dasara with his exceptional visual presentation is a class act. The skilled technician does the job brilliantly well. 

Analysis:

Dasara is the kind of rooted rustic actioner that unfolds at its own pace. So, it takes a fair bit of patience from the audience to get through the establishment episodes and then go to the crux part. The drama is a bit two-paced at times, we must say. 

The world of Dasara is dark and loaded with physical violence, so this might not necessarily be for all sections of the audience. But those who love such authentic raw actioners will absolutely fall in love with this film. 

The film is powered by exceptional performances from the lead cast and that is one of its major assets. The actors associated with the film have given their absolute everything.

The opening half takes us into the world of Dasara and this takes a fair bit of time. The establishment track might demand a bit of patience but once the core plot sets in, things take a turn for good. 

The latter half is where the core plot sets in and the action is blended with drama. The climax is an absorbing one and it is absolutely loaded with high-octane action drama and emotions. 

Verdict: Dasara is an absorbing action drama that unfolds at its own rate and it is a partly engaging one. There are dull patches and then there are high-octane action sequences. It is a mixed bag with good mix of good action blocks and drama episodes

Rating: 2.75/5