Dhandoraa Review: A thought-provoking take on caste, guilt, and redemption

Dhandoraa Story:

Dhandoraa is set in the early 2000s in a small village in Telangana plagued by caste issues. Sivaji (Sivaji) believes only in his own caste. His daughter Swetha falls in love with Ravi (Ravi Krishna), a man from a lower caste, and Sivaji strongly opposes their relationship. The story takes a shocking turn when the village elders kill Ravi without Sivaji’s knowledge. Chaos follows as Sivaji’s children, Swetha and Nandu, turn against him. What choices will Sivaji make now, and will he change his beliefs? These conflicts form the crux of the film.

Dhandoraa Review

Dhandoraa is a new-age social drama directed by Muralikanth Devasoth. He has taken up the crucial issue of the caste system and set it in a small village in Telangana. Last month, another film, Raju Weds Rambai, hit the screens and ended as a smash hit at the box office. A similar concept is narrated here, but through a gripping family drama.

Dhandoraa starts on a dramatic note, as a few lower-caste men are seen taking the dead body of an old woman to the outskirts of their village for cremation. Their journey is so difficult that they are not allowed to use the foot overbridge built by the upper caste. As they try to lower the body using ropes, it tragically falls. This scene itself gives an idea of the kind of film we are getting into.

The main character, Sivaji, is also introduced through his death scene, after which the film goes back in time, and the love story featuring Ravi is unveiled. One of the biggest drawbacks of the film is the love story, which sounds good but is dragged out unnecessarily. There are many unwanted scenes and a song that prevent the film from getting to the main plot.

Only during the last twenty minutes are the scenes depicting Ravi’s murder showcased in a gripping manner. The interval bang is also handled effectively. Another drawback is the predictability of the first half. Though the film has decent drama, it is easy to guess where it is headed. However, the second half makes a difference, as the drama, emotions, and tension are built and executed well.

The character of Sivaji, who ends up in jail and repents the loss of his loved ones, finds comfort in a sex worker with whom he never shares a physical relationship. Once again, after the love track in the first half, director Muralikanth adds more scenes between Bindu Madhavi and Sivaji, which drag the film unnecessarily. Had he shown Sivaji’s emotional transformation through scenes rather than a montage song, the impact would have been better.

Dhandoraa is a strong script on paper and has several powerful moments, though it takes time to reach them. Sivaji delivers a solid performance, especially in the climax. Navdeep is neat but underutilized. Ravi Krishna is the surprise package and delivers a powerful performance. Nandu also does well in a mature role. Bindu Madhavi is decent, though her diction is slightly weak.

The production values and small-town setting look good, supported by effective camerawork. The dialogues are hard-hitting, especially those written for Sivaji. Dhandoraa has gripping moments dealing with honour killings and caste bias, and the emotional second half ends the film on a strong note.

Dhandoraa Verdict

Overall, Dhandoraa is a new-age social drama that speaks harsh truths about caste and honor killings. Despite its predictability and pacing issues, strong performances and a gripping climax make it a decent watch this weekend.

Also Read: Dhandoraa locks OTT platform: Where to stream Sivaji, Navdeep's social drama