Ravi Teja's 'Veera' a let down (Telugu Movie Review)

Film: 'Veera'; Cast: Ravi Teja, Kajal Agarwal, Tapsee, Prakash Raj, Pradeep Rawat, Sridevi Vijayakumar, Rahul Dev and Brahmanandam; Director: P. Ramesh Verma; Producer: Ganesh Indukuri; Music Director: S.S.Taman; Camera: Chota K. Naidu; Rating: * 1/2

Is time running out for the Telugu star Ravi Teja who, who struggled hard to make it big in the industry, obtained star status when he was almost middle-aged? The honeymoon continued for many years, but recently he seems to be getting stereotyped. He has been choosing wrong subjects like Ram Gopal Verma's 'Dongala Muta', which really dented his image.

Here is a warning for those who may watch Ravi Teja's 'Veera' thinking that this would be one of his trademark films - the film is not to be compared with his 'Kick', 'Krishna', 'Dubai Seenu' and 'Don Seenu', which entertained millions of film lovers.

Ravi Teja has his own signature style and his films have the usual masala elements like fights and dances, but it is comedy that always stands out - particularly his chemistry with Brahmanandam, who is undoubtedly the most popular comic actor in the industry. And Ravi Teja's fast dialogue delivery adds value to all his films.

'Veera' has two beautiful heroines dancing and has lot of fights, but the film suffers mainly because of the weak script and bad presentation. There is less of Ravi Teja's trademark dialogues, the comedy scenes are nothing to rave about and surprisingly, Brahmanandam has done little to salvage the film.

'Veera' fails from the word go. Director Ramesh Verma's direction is amateurish. The narration is slightly better in the first half, but in the second half, it tests the viewers's patience.

Verma is mistaken if he had thought that Ravi Teja's presence is enough to guarantee success at the box office. He has failed in penning a good script and looses his grip on the narration. Logic has gone for a toss in the film.

The fight scenes are gory and violent with hands and limbs being chopped off at regular intervals.

In the film, Deva is a security officer to ACP Shyam who has a tussle with the local don, who even kidnaps his son. Shyam does not reveal the truth to his family members. The truth about the security officer, who is actually Veera, son of an MLA, is revealed midway. Meanwhile, there is another don who wants to kill Shyam's wife.

For the first time, Ravi Teja looks as if he is tired of such roles. Somehow he does not show the same level of energy he had shown in films like 'Kick'. The writers are also responsible for Ravi Teja's poor handling of his role.

Kajal Agarwal and Tapsee are just add-glamour to the film. There are too many villains in the film who look disinterested in the proceedings. Brahmanandam and Dharmavarapu are just okay.

Taman is getting stereotyped in his music. His background score is better.

Chota Naidu is extremely good in his camera work, while editing could have been better.

'Veera' is a let down.