Mazaka marks the 30th film of Sundeep Kishan. The film brings together the hit combination of Trinadha Rao and Prasanna Kumar Bezwada and is produced by Rajesh Danda. Let’s see how much the film impresses the audience.
Mazaka Review
Story: Krishna (Sundeep Kishan), a boy who loses his mother at a young age and longs for motherly love, falls for Meera (Ritu Varma) at first sight. Meanwhile, his father, Venkataramana (Rao Ramesh), is eager to see his son get married. However, in a surprising twist, Venkataramana himself falls in love with a woman. When the family expects Krishna to bring home a girl, his father also expresses his desire for love. How do both father and son navigate this situation, and how do they deal with the opposition to their love? This forms the crux of Mazaka.
Performances: Rao Ramesh, known for his energy, once again showcases his prowess in Mazaka. His emotional depth in sentimental scenes and his impeccable comedic timing are highlights. He proves that if given well-written roles beyond the typical templates, he can truly shine. Sundeep Kishan plays Krishna with ease and confidence. His body language and styling add to his character’s appeal. His emotional performances in crucial scenes further establish his growth as an actor.
Ritu Varma appears slightly out of place in comedic scenes. Though her character doesn’t have much scope for performance, her presence is notable in a few sequences. Anshu Ambani, of Manmadhudu fame, makes a comeback with this film. While her screen presence is good, a more experienced senior actress might have suited the role better. Murali Sharma’s character feels reminiscent of roles he has played in previous films, but his performance is entertaining.
Technical Aspects: Leon James’ background score fails to elevate the film’s emotional impact. Many scenes have strong content, but the lack of an engaging soundtrack makes them forgettable. Nizar Shafi’s cinematography is decent. However, post-production seems rushed. The coloring and DI (Digital Intermediate) work appear subpar, leading to dull visuals in both character appearances and background settings. More time in post-production could have significantly improved the film’s visual quality. The art department does a commendable job of creating an authentic middle-class household setting. However, the editing could have been crisper, especially in the Rao Ramesh-Anshu Ambani scenes, which feel slightly stretched.
Analysis: While comedy films don’t always need logic, they do require effective emotional depth. Mazaka struggles to strike a balance between humor and emotion. It neither delivers an engaging comedy without logic nor succeeds in creating a strong emotional connection. The film ends up feeling mediocre.
Writer Prasanna Kumar delivers some sharp dialogues, but certain crucial scenes lack the necessary depth. The Pattalu episode featuring Rao Ramesh and Ritu Varma is one of the film’s most memorable moments. However, the second half suffers from weak emotional engagement. The conflict between Ritu Varma and Anshu Ambani is poorly executed, making it a weak point in the narrative.
Director Trinadha Rao Nakkina manages to handle sentiment and comedy well, especially in showcasing Rao Ramesh’s strengths. However, the film struggles with a weak screenplay and an inconsistent narrative, which ultimately affects its overall impact.
Verdict: Overall, Mazaka banks heavily on Rao Ramesh’s solid performance and some entertaining moments featuring Sundeep Kishan and Murali Sharma. The second half is a bit letdown but if you ignore that the film ends as a passable watch this weekend.
Bottom Line: Routine but passable
Rating: 2.5/5