suresh kavirayani
sureshkavirayani@gmail.com
After the success of DJ Tillu and Tillu Square, Siddhu Jonnalagadda’s craze shot to the top. Tillu Square collected more than Rs 100 crores, so expectations were naturally high for his upcoming films. Now, Jack was released on Thursday with Bommarillu Bhaskar as the director. Vaishnavi Chaitanya is the female lead, while three music directors—Achu Rajamani, Suresh Bobbili and Sam CS—worked on the film. BVSN Prasad produced it. Here’s the story and how it unfolds.
Story
Pablo Neruda alias Jack (Siddhu Jonnalagadda) is a skilled hacker who aspires to become a spy, aiming to join the RAW (Research and Analysis Wing). He attends an interview and assumes he’s selected, acting like a RAW agent. He uncovers information about a serious terrorist attack and decides to take action. Meanwhile, RAW officer Manoj (Prakash Raj) is also working to stop the same threat. Jack captures a terrorist suspect—and even Manoj—mistakenly thinking he’s involved. Later, Jack realises his error and RAW officials warn him not to interfere.
Parallelly, Jack’s father (Naresh) hires a private detective agency to find out what his son is doing. Bhanumanthi (Vaishnavi Chaitanya) takes the case and starts following Jack. A lead emerges involving Rahaman (Rahul Dev), who is in Nepal planning something big. Jack, Bhanumanthi, and the RAW officers all head to Nepal, and the climax revolves around whether they manage to prevent the terrorist attack with Jack’s help.
Analysis
This film marks a testing phase for director Bommarillu Bhaskar, returning after a four-year hiatus. He collaborates with Siddu Jonnalagadda, who became a household name with DJ Tillu. One wonders how this combination came to be—Siddu is famous for his punchlines, humour and Telangana dialect, whereas Bhaskar typically delivers soft, family-oriented stories.
The film starts by portraying Jack as a hyperactive individual excelling in academics, hacking, phone tapping, and more. Like the phrase “Jack of all trades,” he is shown doing everything—but the director fails to convincingly convey his transformation into a spy. After the first half-hour, it’s evident the film lacks a coherent story, and audience engagement begins to wane. Viewers start checking their phones, disconnected from what’s playing on-screen.
The portrayal of RAW and its functioning lacks depth and realism. Instead of building intensity, the film treats it as a joke. It’s hard to digest the idea of an amateur like Jack independently trying to stop terrorists alongside trained RAW agents. Siddu’s comedic portrayal in a spy setting just doesn’t fit. The audience expects him to crack jokes and deliver fun dialogues, not take on global threats.
Furthermore, the story is filled with absurd and illogical sequences—like Jack finding a clue through a strip of tablets linked to a medical store in Nepal. The chemistry between Siddu and Vaishnavi is underwhelming and poorly written. Her character suddenly finds herself in Nepal with the RAW team, without any clear transition.
Some comic scenes, including Jack’s RAW interview, not only fail to evoke laughter but also test viewers’ patience. A spy thriller like this would have suited someone like Adivi Sesh, known for such roles, rather than Siddu who thrives in comic settings. Bhaskar is known for writing strong female characters, but here, Vaishnavi’s role is weak and underutilised—reduced to a few scenes and a song.
Performances
Siddu Jonnalagadda as Jack delivers a few decent moments but overall fails to fit the spy persona. Usually, he carries his films with ease, but here, he’s caught between trying to be a spy and trying to channel DJ Tillu—resulting in a performance that doesn’t satisfy either audience. Vaishnavi Chaitanya looks beautiful and does her part, but her character lacks substance and strength. Prakash Raj as the RAW officer is passable, but nothing stands out. VK Naresh plays Jack’s father without much to add. Brahmaji, as Vaishnavi’s father and others in supporting roles fail to leave a mark.
Technical Aspects
The dialogues are dull and fail to entertain. Cinematography by Vijay K Chakravarthy is commendable and perhaps the only standout element in the technical department. The background score is average despite the involvement of three music directors. The overall production quality doesn’t elevate the experience due to weak writing and execution.
Final Verdict
Jack falls way short of expectations and becomes a misfire. Siddu Jonnalagadda doesn’t suit the spy role, and Bommarillu Bhaskar fails to make an impact with this unusual genre shift. This odd combination results in Jack becoming the “Jack of all flops.”
Cast: Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Vaishnavi Chaitanya, Prakash Raj, VK Naresh, Brahmaji, Rahul Dev, Subbaraju and others
Music Director: Achu Rajamani, Suresh Bobbili, Sam CS
Cinematographer: Vijay K Chakravarthy
Producer: BVSN Prasad, Bapineedu
Director: Bommarillu Bhaskar
Rating: 1.5/5
