Nani’s Dasara out on OTT: Debutant Srikanth Odela preserves the soul of the story despite many heavyweights

Many opined Nani went overboard while promoting Dasara across the country during its theatrical release and he had even claimed the director Srikanth Odela was his biggest gift to Indian cinema this year. Exaggeration or not, there’s some truth to the statement. It’s quite rare for a first-time director to display such authority in the storytelling and command over the technical aspects to his craft.

After a four week run in theatres, the action entertainer is out on OTT via Netflix today. Nani, Keerthy Suresh united for the second time after Nenu Local for the film that also featured Dheekshith Shetty, Sai Kumar, Samuthirakani, Poorna, Jhansi, Shine Tom Chacko and others in key roles. Sudhakar Cherukuri, the producer of films like Padi Padi Leche Manasu, Aadavallu Meeku Johaarlu, Virata Parvam, scored his first commercial success with Dasara.

While the friendship between Dharani, Suri and their tryst with the girl of their dreams Vennela, is the soul of Dasara, it’s special because of its stance against alcholism. It’s rare and brave for a commercial film to put out that statement openly. Discussing the ramifications of the alcohol prohibition that actor-politician NTR implemented in the 90s as a CM, the film showcased the plight of many women who lose their husbands over their drinking habits.

Also read: Dasara on OTT: If the core emotional point is not a female, there’s no depth to the story, says Nani 

Srikanth Odela didn’t make the mistake of showcasing ‘alcohol’ as a sign of heroism in the initial portions and merely depicted that it was a part of the characters’ life. The local bar, being positioned as a political tool, contributes to the drama. The focus later shifts to the personal battles of the characters. With his marriage, Dharani gradually comes of age; drinking takes a backseat and he becomes responsible.

For a major part of the film, Dasara is about redemption and Dharani’s attempts to settle scores with the local village leader. However, just before the film ends, Srikanth puts the spotlight back on the bar again and offers a glimpse of how it wreaked havoc on the lives of women in the village. The action choreography, visual imagery, enriched by the background score, are a major asset to Dasara.

Also read: Dasara director Srikanth Odela: More than collections, my focus is to tell a story as genuinely as possible 

However, the makers could’ve taken more care in ensuring that its aesthetic was distinct from Rangasthalam, Pushpa and KGF. The simplistic storyline also drew criticism. Unlike mainstream films, the lead star didn’t tinker with the soul of the story and it’s the directorial voice that stays with you, long after the viewing. Dasara didn’t perform well in other languages beyond Telugu. The Netflix release in five languages should give the audience it certainly deserves.