Movie: Mazaka
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: AK Entertainments, Hasya Movies
Cast: Sundeep Kishan, Ritu Varma, Rao Ramesh, Anshu, Hyper Adhi, Murali Sharma, Raghu Babu, Srinivas Reddy, Ajay, Chammak Chandra, and others
Writer: Sai Krishna
Music: Leon James
DOP: Nizar Shafi
Editor: Chota K Prasad
Art director: Brahma Kadali
Producer: Razesh Danda
Story, Screenplay & Dialogues: Prasanna Kumar Bezawada
Directed by: Trinadha Rao Nakkina
Release Date: Feb 26, 2025
Sundeep Kishan's milestone 30th film, "Mazaka," is generating significant buzz. Director Trinadha Rao Nakkina and writer Prasanna Kumar, known for their successful collaborations on films like "Dhamaka" and "Nenu Local," have teamed up once again. This combination, along with the film’s promotional campaign, has piqued audience curiosity.
Let’s take a look at its highlights and shortcomings.
Story:
Venkata Ramana (Rao Ramesh), a middle-class employee, lives with his adult son Krishna (Sundeep Kishan). Despite all his efforts to find a good alliance for his son, he is rejected because they are afraid to give their daughter to a house without a woman.
So Venkata Ramana decides to marry again before looking for a partner for his son. An accidental encounter with Yashoda (Anshu) transforms his life, and he falls for her beauty. She rejects his proposals and is preparing to leave for the United States. On the other hand, his son Krishna begins to love a college student Meera (Ritu Varma).
The plot twist involves Yashoda and Meera ultimately agreeing to the father-and-son combo, only to face an unexpected issue with their nuptials. How will this father and son resolve this issue, and how do Yashoda and Meera know one other?
Artistes’ Performances:
Sundeep Kishan has portrayed a role befitting his persona. He is his usual self, although his acting in the closing emotional sequences is commendable.
Rao Ramesh appears unsuitable beside Anshu, but that's where the comedy worked initially, but the romantic sequences and duets with Anshu are ineffective.
The purported comedic interactions between Sundeep and Rao Ramesh have largely failed to resonate, with the exception of one or two scenes.
Ritu Varma is only adequate. Anshu appears well-suited for her role in this comeback effort. Murali Sharma has delivered yet another compelling performance.
Hyper Aadhi's comedy is increasingly becoming monotonous.
Technical Excellence:
Leon James has not given an effective soundtrack to uplift the narrative but delivered two catchy songs: “Baby Ma” and “Sommasillu Pothunnave.” The cinematography is adequate.
Although a couple of other writers have been credited alongside Prasanna Kumar, the writing remains pretty ordinary, and many comedic segments have largely failed to click, though a few brought laughs.
The production values are substantial for a film of this range.
Highlights:
Pre-interval episode
The final emotional scenes
Couple of comedy episodes
Drawback:
Rao Ramesh’s romance sequences
The humor lacks sufficient impact
Ajay’s track and Hyper Adhi’s episodes
Routine narrative
Analysis
Director Trinadha Rao Nakkina, mostly working with writer Bezawada Prasanna Kumar, is not known for innovative storytelling; yet, he consistently achieves commercial success because of his comedic flair. He consistently delivers entertainment, regardless of the repetitive nature of the narrative.
When we enter the theaters for “Mazaka,” we sure know what to expect: comedy. However, the film fails to deliver it in abundance. The “Maza” in the “Mazaka” happens occasionally, not continuously.
Trinadha Rao Nakkina and Bejawada Prasanna Kumar are this time focused more on twists on the tale. The film begins with both Rao Ramesh and Sundeep Kishan narrating their story to a police officer, played by Ajay. And Ajay at the interval tells them that if he doesn’t surprise him with twists, he will put them behind bars. So, we get many twists and turns in the second half, and it gets prolonged on the way.
While the comedy sequences like Rao Ramesh and Sundeep Kishan jumping on the walls of their respective girlfriends’ houses and getting shocked to know that both of them have entered the same house are hilarious, other twists look silly and unnecessary.
The first half of the film is largely flat, but it provides decent comedy, especially toward the interval bang. The real story takes place post-interval. Towards the end, the film becomes sentimental. It seems that Trinadha Rao has tried to follow Trivikram’s style. But the flow of the narration in the second half is not smooth.
In the first half, the episode of Rao Ramesh wearing colorful shirts and following Anshu and singing duets provides an odd feeling. In the second half, the so-called elopement sequence between them tests the patience. Trimming or deleting such scenes would have improved proceedings.
In the second case, the film only comes to life during the emotional exchanges between all four main characters.
Overall, “Mazaka” is not an all-out entertainer like Trinadha Rao’s previous movies, as comedy portions are limited, and there’s a lot of routine narrative. Still, it makes an okay watch due to the overall package and the final moments. The film needs a lot of trimming to cut out unnecessary sequences and routineness.
Bottom-line: Works In Parts
