The Ghost, streaming on Netflix, is a classy actioner with an in-form Nagarjuna

Nagarjuna has always been known for his experiments and unique choices among his mainstream entertainers. One can’t ignore his contribution to introducing new genres to Telugu cinema. Recently, he dipped his hands in The Ghost, an action thriller for which he teamed up with Praveen Sattaru. The film, which hit screens for Dussehra, is now streaming on Netflix.

Well, the film revolves around Vikram (Nagarjuna), an Interpol officer in a relationship with his colleague Priya (Sonal Chauhan) in Dubai. A bad day at work destroys Vikram psychologically and he leaves Priya. One fine day, he receives a call from his sister Anu (Gul Panag) stating her concern over her daughter Aditi’s life and seeks Vikram’s help to solve the problem

The Ghost is a terrific testimony to Nagarjuna, the actor. His performance as Vikram is one of the biggest assets of the film and the veteran carries the film on his shoulders entirely. The action sequences in this film are one of the best in Telugu cinema in recent times and they merit a special mention. They aren’t only stylish but what helps is Nagarjuna’s ability to pull off risky stunts with such ease.

The film comprises a handful of terrific action scenes that keeps us glued to the screens. Sonal Chauhan isn’t just restricted to her glamour quotient but her role offers good scope for a solid performance. Her efforts are evident in the action segments and the actress impresses while she lasts. Other actors Anikha Surendran, Gul Panag, Ravi Varma, and Srikanth Iyengar perform their parts well.

While the film is brilliant with the action; it’s slightly underwhelming with the drama and the story and doesn’t match the staggering impact created by the stunts. The emotional angle looks artificial at best and does not help the viewer resonate with the film. The villain’s characterisation is weak in The Ghost. A stronger villain could’ve made a huge difference, especially when the protagonist goes all guns blazing. So, the viewer more often than not ends up feeling that there aren’t many hassles for the hero.

The story gets predictable after a point in the latter hour and the screenplay is uninteresting ever since. Some mind-boggling scenes offer good distraction but their relevance in the story isn’t at all that great. While Bharatt-Saurabh’s music is passable, the background score by Mark K Robin stands out. His score with a few action blocks contributes to your curiosity. Mukesh G’s cinematography is extraordinary, on par with Hollywood films and his work adds huge depth to the action thriller.

The production values are staggering and it’s obvious that the makers have spent lavishly on the film for its elegance. As a director, Praveen Sattaru mostly succeeds with The Ghost. While he’s superb in handling action, the emotional core takes a back seat. His narrative isn’t exactly gripping in the latter hour.

If one were asked to sum up The Ghost in a nutshell, it’s fair to label it a partly engaging action thriller. Nagarjuna’s scintillating performance backed up by some classy fight scenes is worthy of your time. On the flip side, the absence of a strong emotional foundation, a weak antagonist, and a predictable storyline doesn't help it reach great heights. If you’re an action junkie, catch The Ghost, but be prepared for a bumpy ride.