Movie Name : Mazaka
Release Date : February 26, 2025
Cast : Sundeep Kishan, Rao Ramesh, Ritu Varma, Anshu, Murali Sharma, Raghubabu, Srinivas Reddy, Hyper Aadi etc.
Director : Trinadha Rao Nakkina
Music Director : Leon James
Telugumopo.com Rating : 2.5/5
Story:
Ramana (Rao Ramesh) brings up his son Krishna (Sundeep Kishan) alone after his wife dies in childbirth. Though he is lonely, he never thinks of remarriage and dedicates himself to his son. Without any female influence in their house, the father-son pair lives a free but happy life.
As Krishna reaches marriageable age, Ramana struggles to find him a bride, as families hesitate due to their unusual household dynamic. Frustrated by constant rejections, Ramana makes an unexpected decision—he will get married first. This leads him to develop feelings for Yashoda (Anshu), while Krishna falls for Meera (Ritu Varma). Now, both father and son find themselves navigating love simultaneously.
Meanwhile, the ruthless Bhargav Varma (Murali Krishna) holds a personal vendetta against those who oppose him. What link do Ramana and Krishna share with Bhargav? Why is bringing a family photo home so important to them? What secret tension exists between Meera and Yashoda? As emotions, conflicts, and unexpected twists unfold, the film explores whether love and family can overcome all odds.
Review:
Sundeep Kishan performs well, effortlessly alternating between romance, comedy, and emotional depth. His modulation in dialogue lends weight to his character, and his suave dance moves further make him a presence on screen.
Ritu Varma brings a dash of glamour but has little space to showcase her acting skills. Still, she gives a decent performance.
With a comeback, Anshu impresses with a well-crafted role. Emotional depth is given to pivotal situations by her through expressive acting and making scenes special.
Rao Ramesh again shows the reason why he is a beloved actor, walking away with all the attention in his impeccable comedy timing and hallmark mannerisms. His dialogue and accent delivery gives authenticity, with his performance emerging as one of the film’s best.
Murali Sharma provides a dependable performance, lending credibility to his role, and Ajay is apt in the police officer’s role, performing his part with ease.
In comedy, Hyper Aadi, Chammak Chandra, Srinivas Reddy, and Raghu Babu make the most of the material provided. But dated writing and poor punchlines do not evoke the intended laughter, and the comedy aspect flops.
Trinadha Rao Nakkina directs Mazaka, a lighthearted and humorous first half, combining humor with sentiment. It is an excellent launching pad for Sundeep Kishan, Rao Ramesh, and Murali Sharma. Although the idea is cliched, it comes off at a good pace and makes proper introductions of most of the key players involved, keeping the audience engaged.
Though the first half retains its energy, the second does not. The humor turns too repetitive, and the overplayed performances begin to appear too artificial. Even with mature actors like Sundeep Kishan and Rao Ramesh, who have immaculate comic timing, the movie is unable to be saved once it begins losing steam. Obvious attempts at humor and shrieked out lines further dewater the storyline, making the film less intriguing with each passing minute.
The climax tries to regain emotional depth, with fine performances by Sundeep Kishan, Rao Ramesh, Anshu, and Ritu Varma. But by the time the film tries to connect with the audience again, the loose ends in the script have already caused their damage, and it is difficult to leave an impression.
Musically, Leon James provides a couple of foot-tapping tracks, but the rest of the soundtrack is underwhelming. The background score supports the film but does not enhance the experience. On the production front, the film has good visuals, providing a well-polished presentation.
On the whole, Mazaka is a bit of a fun movie but it never quite manages to carry its charm through. The first half does have some interesting sequences, but the second half is lacking, making it a run-of-the-mill film that never quite reaches its potential.
