Movie Name : Zebra
Release Date : November 22, 2024
Cast : SatyaDev, Daali Dhananjaya, Sathyaraj, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Sunil Verma, Sathya Akala, Jeniffer Piccinato, Amrutha Iyengar etc.
Director : Eashvar Karthic
Music Director : Ravi Basrur
Telugumopo.com Rating : 2.5/5
Story:
Surya (Satyadev) is an experienced bank employee in the Bank of Trust; it is known for its very complex system and working. His life takes an unexpected turn when his girlfriend, Swathi (Priya Bhavani Shankar), who works in another bank, mistakenly transfers the amount to the wrong account. Using his knowledge, Surya steps forward to recover money, but this sets off a dangerous chain of events.
Things go haywire when Surya ends up owing ₹5 crore to a menacing mafia don named Aadi (Daali Dhananjaya). With just four days to pay off the debt or else, Surya finds himself at the receiving end of an arduous fight for survival. The more desperately he tries to find a solution for the problem, the deeper he goes into this danger trap of deceit.
The gripping storyline follows a plot in which Surya competes against time to find out what is behind the scam of ₹5 crore, to expose the mastermind behind the chaos, and to win his freedom. Suspenseful twists and the edge-of-your-seat narrative leave an audience totally captive until the final reveal in this film.
Review:
Satyadev delivers a remarkable performance as a customer relations officer, portraying a wide range of emotions with finesse. His compelling screen presence and nuanced expressions elevate key moments, making this one of the standout performances of his career.
Daali Dhananjaya does a fair job, but his characterization has not been done well enough to make the purported antagonist look menacing. Priya Bhavani Shankar is terrific with the zest of a lively girl and does a great job, especially in the funny parts, which makes the storyline delightful.
Unfortunately, the roles of Sunil and Sathyaraj are underdeveloped, despite their solid efforts. Amrutha Iyenkar is underutilized, with minimal screen presence that doesn’t allow her talent to shine.
Satya provides excellent comic relief with his impeccable timing, bringing humor that lightens the tone. However, Suresh Chandra Menon, Jeniffer Piccinato, and Ravin Makhija fail to leave an impression as their casting feels out of place. Supporting actors like Temper Vamsi, Sameer, Rama Raju, Surya, Usha Sri, and Deepthi perform adequately, fulfilling their roles without making a significant impact.
The film presents an intriguing concept, with director Eashvar Karthic aiming to explore the world of banking frauds. While the story begins on a strong note, the screenplay becomes bogged down by unnecessary comedic sequences and a lack of logical consistency that ultimately affects the film’s overall impact.
The narrative becomes increasingly convoluted with numerous subplots and characters, leaving the audience confused at times. Although the first half sets up an exciting second half, the overcomplicated technical details and pacing issues make it harder to maintain interest. The film picks up again in the pre-climax and climax, but by then, the momentum has been lost.
Ravi Basrur’s music and background score fail to elevate the story, missing the opportunity to enhance the tension or drama in crucial moments. On the positive side, the production values are commendable, adding a polished touch to the film.
Eashvar Karthic succeeds in introducing an engaging premise, but the film loses its way by incorporating excessive commercial elements and unnecessary scenes. A more streamlined narrative and better pacing could have turned this promising idea into a more satisfying cinematic experience.
Overall, Zebra is a solid crime thriller centered around banking fraud, highlighted by Satyadev’s impressive performance. Director Eashvar Karthic presents an intriguing concept and effectively utilizes the cast. However, with some refinement to the script—eliminating illogical scenes and trimming unnecessary elements—the film could have made a stronger impact.
