suresh kavirayani
Director Nakkina Thrinadha Rao and writer Prasanna Kumar Bezawada, known for delivering hits like Nenu Local and Dhamaka, have joined forces once again for Mazaka, which was released on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. The film stars Sundeep Kishan and Rao Ramesh in lead roles, marking Sundeep Kishan’s 30th film. Ritu Varma plays the female lead, while Manmadhudu fame Anshu makes her comeback after many years. Here’s a look at the film’s story and how it fares.
Story
Venkata Ramana (Rao Ramesh) and his son Krishna (Sundeep Kishan) belong to a middle-class family. Venkata Ramana is searching for a bride for Krishna, but no one is willing to marry him because there is no woman in the household. A marriage broker advises Venkata Ramana to remarry first, as it would make it easier to find a match for his son.
One day, Venkata Ramana sees Yashodha (Anshu) and falls in love with her at first sight. He wants to marry her, but Yashodha has plans to move to the USA. Meanwhile, Krishna also falls in love with a college girl, Meera (Ritu Varma). Both father and son try their best to win over their respective love interests, but a major twist occurs when Bhargav Varma (Murali Sharma) enters the picture.
Bhargav Varma sets a condition that both father and son must fulfill if they want to marry the women they love. What is this condition? How is Bhargav Varma related to Yashodha and Meera? Will Venkata Ramana and Krishna finally get the family photo they dream of with the women they love? The film unravels these questions in an entertaining manner.
Analysis
Director Nakkina Thrinadha Rao has a track record of delivering successful entertainers like Cinema Choopista Mava, Nenu Local and Dhamaka. Writer Prasanna Kumar Bezawada has collaborated with him on multiple projects and their combination has generated curiosity about Mazaka.
Several films in the entertainment genre have lately prioritised comedy over logic, aiming purely to amuse the audience. Mazaka follows the same formula—it focuses on entertainment but lacks logic. Unfortunately, Prasanna Kumar seems to have lost his touch with the screenplay. Interestingly, this story was in circulation for years before finally landing in Rao Ramesh’s hands. Prasanna initially wrote the script with Rao Ramesh in mind and later, Sundeep Kishan was added as the lead actor.
The core plot is simple—a father and son both fall in love and want to marry their respective partners, but an obstacle stands in their way. The first half is engaging, with Rao Ramesh’s love story adding freshness to the narrative. Typically, films focus on a young hero trying to impress a girl, but here, a middle-aged man pursuing romance brings novelty. The chemistry between Sundeep Kishan and Ritu Varma is also well-developed in the initial half.
However, the film falls apart in the second half. The conflict between Anshu and Ritu Varma’s characters lacks depth and is based on an unconvincing, almost silly, premise. Several scenes feel unnecessarily dragged, making the second half sluggish. One standout moment is the emotional kitchen scene between Rao Ramesh and Ritu Varma, which adds some weight to the narrative.
On the downside, certain comedy scenes, especially those involving Jabardasth Rohini, Anshu and Rao Ramesh, are poorly executed. The interactions between Rao Ramesh and Anshu in the latter half feel artificial, failing to evoke the intended impact. While the climax has some redeeming moments—particularly the wedding scene featuring Sundeep Kishan and Hyper Aadhi, which, despite being reminiscent of Atharintiki Daredi, manages to entertain—the overall storytelling falls short.
Performances
Rao Ramesh steals the show. Though some might find his performance over-the-top, his role demands a loud and energetic portrayal, which he delivers effectively. His comedic timing, especially in the first half where he tries to impress Anshu, adds to the film’s charm. However, his chemistry with Anshu lacks conviction.
Sundeep Kishan plays a role that suits him well, delivering a solid performance. Ritu Varma is adequate, while Anshu looks beautiful but fails to impress with her expressions. Murali Sharma gets a meaty role after a long time and does justice to it. Hyper Aadhi and Srinivas Reddy manage to generate a few laughs. Ajay, who plays a police officer, starts off well but becomes loud and irritating in the latter half.
Technical aspects
Technically, the film is average. The cinematography by Nizar Shafi is decent, but Leon James’ music is a major letdown. The last two songs, along with their choreography, fail to leave an impression and are a significant drawback. The dialogues, however, provide some comic relief, with well-placed punchlines aimed at mass audiences.
Verdict
Mazaka offers entertainment but only in bits and pieces. The Nakkina-Prasanna duo seems to have lost their magic touch, especially in the second half, which drags down the film. While the story has potential, weak execution and lack of a strong conflict dilute the impact. The film redeems itself slightly with its ending, but overall, it fails to be a consistent entertainer.
Rao Ramesh is the film’s biggest asset, and his performance alone makes Mazaka a watchable, time-pass entertainer. However, the film could have been much better had the makers paid more attention to strengthening the second half.
Cast: Sundeep Kishan, Rao Ramesh, Ritu Varma, Anshu Sagar, Ajay, Hyper Aadhi, Murali Sharma, Raghu Babu, Srinivas Reddy, and others
Cinematography: Nizar Shafi
Music: Leon James
Producer: Razesh Danda, Umesh Kumar Bansal
Story, Screenplay & Dialogues:
Prasanna Kumar Bezawada
Director: Nakkina Thrinadha Rao
Rating: (2.5/5)
