Movie: Taxiwaala
Rating: 3/5
Banner: UV Creations and GA2 Pictures
Cast: Vijay Deverakonda, Priyanka Jawalkar, Malavika Nair, Sijju, Yamuna, Chammak Chandra, Uttej and others
Screenplay, dialogues: Saikumar Reddy
Music director: Jakes Bejoy
Cinematography: Sujith Sarang
Editor: Srijith Sarang
Producer: SKN
Story and directed by: Rahul Sankrityan
Release date: Nov 17, 2018
Vijay Deverakonda is heartthrob for the youth today. We have seen him in 'Geetha Govindam' and 'NOTA' this year and this is his third film as lead hero. “Taxiwaala” is here.
Let’s find out its merits and demerits.
Story:
Shiva (Vijay Deverakonda) comes to Hyderabad in search of a job and finds driving cab provides lucrative income. He buys a second hand car for dead cheap price only that he comes to know much later that the car is possessed by a spirit.
How his life changes after that and whose spirit is it and what is her story?
Artistes’ Performances:
Vijay Deverakonda looks quite charming and holds the film in the first half with his acting. He doesn’t have much role in the second half except in the climax.
The film has given lengthy roles to Madhunandan and another comedy actor and both have provided good laughs.
Malavika Nair in crucial role is good. New actress Priyanka is okay. Sijju as villain, Yamuna as mother, Uttej as doctor make their presence felt.
Technical Excellence:
The film is shot in limited budget, in limited locations. Still, it has neat cinematography, and adequate production values.
Jakes Bejoy’s “Maate Vinaduga” song is pick of the lot and he has given good background score.
Highlights:
Entertaining first half
Vijay Deverakonda
Maate Vinaduga song
Cinematography
Drawback:
Extended runtime
Ups and downs in second half
Climax
Analysis
Vijay Deverakonda became popular with small and concept oriented movies and “Taxiwaala” is another such off-beat concept movie.
The basic premise rests on - What if a cab driver finds that his car is possessed and the spirit changes his life? This plotline may sound like Nayanathara’s “Dora” but it isn’t similar. “Taxiwaala” also has another theme involving Malavika Nair.
The film begins in a simple manner and picks up pace quickly. It is quite entertaining and engaging enough in the first half with simple scenes like romantic episode on Vijay Deverakonda and Priyanka Jawalkar, comedy scenes involving Madhunandan and another comedian, and some mischievous moments by the spirit in the car. It turns quite interesting with the interval bang and sets the mood right.
Post-interval, the film introduces the flashback of Malavika Nair and her story which is extended more than required and pace slackens.
The second half completely doesn’t go downhill but the flow has ups and downs and it ends with an emotional climax to appeal to the larger audiences.
It does have serious logic issues in the second half but it makes us to watch it till the end without much issues. The director and his editor makes us watch the film without worrying about anything.
It does provide some good comedy moments, and has good song ‘Maate Vinaduga’. Towards ending, the film gives us the feeling that it is getting dragged on and on. It needed sharper editing in the final portions.
What works in the film is the concept, the film’s screenplay in the first half, the director’s work. Few minutes into the film, it is clear that Vijay Deverakonda had agreed to this much before he signed “Geetha Govindam” as he is looking quite younger than now. He has become a bigger star and his image is huge for this concept. Still, it makes a decent watch.
Overall, “Taxiwaala” is simple thriller with adequate elements of thrills, comedy and some engaging moments.
Bottom-line: Neat Ride
