Movie: V
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: Sri Venkateshwara Creations
Cast: Nani, Sudheer Babu, Nivetha Thomas, Aditi Rao, Vennela Kishore, Tanikella Bharani, and others
Music: Amit Trivedi
Background score: Thaman
Cinematography: PG Vinda
Producers: Sirish, Raju
Written, and directed by Indraganit Mohana Krishna
Release date: September 5, 2020
Streaming on: Amazon Prime
“V” is not only the 25th film in Nani’s career, it also is the first film in his career that debuted on an OTT platform.
While many other small movies had already streamed on OTT platforms, this is the first major Telugu movie featuring a popular star like Nani to premiere on a digital streaming site.
Let’s analyze.
Story:
DCP Aditya (Sudheer Babu) is a super cop known for his many achievements. A killer (Nani) believed to be a psychopath challenges the DCP to nab him before he finishes killing four persons.
The killer leaves enough clues and messages for the DCP. Meanwhile, Aditya seeks the help of his girlfriend Apoorva (Nivetha), a crime novelist in solving the clues left by the killer. But is he a serial killer, and if so, what is his motive?
The rest of the story deals with this point.
Artistes’ Performances:
Although the film begins with Sudheer Babu getting a heroic introduction like a typical mass hero, would there be any doubt that the real hero is Nani? In the role of ‘killer’, Nani gets the bad boy histrionics well. But he goes overboard in many places. He is not at his natural self here. Still, he is the best part of this thriller, makes a riveting watch in the beginning portions with his performance.
Sudheer Babu as a super cop shines. He gets equal footage as Nani does.
Aditi Rao and Nivetha Thomas don’t have much screen time in the film and both their roles are clichéd. Raja Chembrolu as his Nani’s friend in the army and Vennela Kishore as Sudheer’s team members are okay.
Technical Excellence:
The film boasts a rich production design and high technical values. The cinematography by PG Vinda is the top class.
The background score by Thaman is the best part while the songs are just okay. Editing is crisp.
Highlights:
Nani and Sudheer Babu
Background score
Drawback:
Predictable Backstory
Excessive Violence
Weak Screenplay
Analysis
“V” begins much like a serial killer movie and slowly moves into the genre of “Aparachitudu” with Nani leaving clues at the spot after killing people with cryptic messages.
Also, the screenplay runs on the similar fashion of “Kick” (Ravi Teja vs Shaam). However, the cat and mouse games between Nani and Sudheer Babu though are predictable hold interest.
Any layman can easily guess that Nani is not a serial killer. 45 minutes after the film, we would know that this is not a serial killer story but the story of vengeance.
Anyone who has seen enough Indian masala action movies can guess Nani would have flashbacks to reveal the real motive. Such stories click when the backstory of the protagonist is thrilling. But ‘V’ fails on that front. The flashback is as predictable as a Boyapati movie.
The moment, the flashback is opened, the pace drops, the film slips.
Moreover, the basic story of "V" is nothing but a lean version of Murugadoss ‘Ghajini’ including the Asin angle.
The so-called action sequences and shootouts may be new for a Nani starrer but not for the audiences. So, they don’t excite much. The romance part shot both the pairs – Nani and Aditi, Sudheer Babu and Nivetha, is clichéd to the core.
To be fair, “V” begins well and holds interest thanks to Nani’s acting. Director Indraganti should have focused on the latter part of the story. He also has used Telugu movie references like K Raghavendra Rao, Boyapati, and other movie making styles to elicit humor, which is fine but the investigation scenes and the clues are so formulaic.
All in all, Nani’s 25th film lacks uniqueness. It is a regular story of revenge. The title “V” stands for Nani’s name in the film but it is about vengeance.
Bottom line: 'V'ery Ordinary