Dhandam Dhashagunam – Movie Review

Director K Madesha has done a few remake movies in Kannada like Gaja and Raam and has proved successful in his attempts. His latest movie Dhandam Dhashagunam is also a remake of hit Tamil movie Kaakha Kaakha. Though almost eight years have passed after the release of this movie, the director does not seem to have updated his story according to the latest development. The movie seems to be outdated.

Dhandam Dhashagunam is an action-cum-romantic film and Chiranjeevi Sarja and Ravi Shankar's electrifying performance is its main attraction. V Harikrishna's music, choreography of fight and song scenes, punch dialogues, shooting locations and art works are the other highlights of the movie. But the movie fails to impress the viewer because the director has been very honest to the original, which was done in 2003.

The movie is all about an honest police office, who resorts to beating, when his words fail to stop crime in the city. The title of the film is quite suitable to storyline. But K Madesha has copied every frame to frame, which makes it lack freshness. There is a major change in the climax and it comes as most-expected thing as audience would predict it easily.

Surya (Chiranjeevi Sarja) is an encounter specialist, who maintains peace and order in the city. But Shiva (Ravishankar) is a dreaded gangster and wants to avenge the death of his criminal brother Manja. He targets Surya's wife Maya (Ramya) and Swati, the wife of another police officer Srikanth (Tilak). What happens next will form the story of the film.

Chiranjeevi Sarja looks awesome in the getup of a police officer, but he falls flat in delivering the convincing act as a cop. Villain Ravishankar overshadows the hero with his brilliant acting. He wins the heart of pranksters with his punch dialogues. Ramya also impresses movie buffs in a couple of song sequences. Tilak and others are all okay in their respective roles.

Harikrishna's music for songs is good and songs like 'Marali Marali...', 'Malli Neenu...' and Onduralli Obbalu Cheluve...' are good to listen. But he seems to have failed in his background score. Shooting locations and art direction in songs are good. Manohar's camera work is also commandable.

Overall, it can be said that Dhandam Dhashagunam does not have anything new to offer to the audience. The fight between Ramya and producer A Ganesh has given lot of free publicity to the movie. In fact, it has created lot of curiosity among the movie buffs. This publicity and curiosity may bring people to the theatres.

Producer: A Ganesh

Director: K Madesha

Cast: Chiranjeevi Sarja, Ramya, Ravishankar, Tilak, Gazar Khan, Ramesh

Music: V Harikrishna