'Dandupalayam' was a sensational success in Kannada and Telugu. Two sequels followed. The latest movie directed by Srinivas Raju, the director of those films, is 'Thaggedhe Le Movie'. In this too there is a continuation of the story of 'Dandupalayam'. There is a new story. There is a drug mafia. So, how is this movie? (Thaggedhe Le Review)
Thaggedhe Le Story:
Ishwar (Naveen Chandra) is a software employee. He marries his elder sister's daughter Devi (Divya Pillai). After taking seven steps in a hurry, he calls all his colleagues to his house and throws a party. He is shocked to see Lizzy (Ananya Sen Gupta) at the party. Lizzy introduces herself to Devi as Ishwar's friend... then starts blackmailing Ishwar?
Where are the videos of both of them? What is their story? Who is the dead body of the woman found in Ishwar's house? Who killed her? What is the relationship between Ishwar's life, the Dandupalayam gang, and the drug mafia? What did police officer Chalapati (Ravi Shankar) do? What are the truths told by Ishwar in the police investigation? is the rest of the movie.
Analysis (Thaggedhe Le Telugu Review): 'Thaggedhe Le' trailer created curiosity. The 'Dandupalayam' gang added to the murder mystery got more interest. The movie also started interestingly. But, for a while, the movie went aside from the original story like a derailed wagon.
The hero has a corpse in his house. He destroys the evidence and calls the police. They take him and start asking questions. There is an opportunity to take the story forward while giving a thrill to the audience. But, the director did not do that. Instead of going the usual way, he added comedy. 'Getup' Sheenu, 'Auto' Ram Prasad, '30 Years' Prithvi's scenes with double meaning dialogues were not impressive at all.
Naveen Chandra and Divya Pellai's scenes seem routine. I don't understand why my brother-in-law means so much love. If such logic comes to mind while watching the movie, remove it. Do you think that the audience will understand because they have seen it in many movies!? In the cut-paste type, all the first-off has been removed. The concept of blackmail is nothing new. I see it in regular news. It is surprising that Srinivas Raju who made 'Dandupalayam' deals with such a concept in a more regular routine style.
As a story, there are interesting points and twists in 'Taghgede Le'. But, it was not brought to the screen properly. Background music and production values are good. But the remix of Charan Arjun's 'Mate Mantramu' song and the way it was shot will trouble the Ilayaraja - Bharathiraja fans.
How did the actors do? :
Ravi Shankar is the real hero of the movie. Naveen Chandra has done well in the role of a software employee. But...with one pre-climax episode, all eyes will fall on Ravi Shankar. In the fight with the 'Dandupalayam' gang, he got angry. Raja Ravindra played a regular role as a policeman. Makarand Deshpande, Pooja Gandhi, and Ravi Kale shine once again in the 'Dandupalayam' gang characters.
There is same intensity in their acting. Divya Pillai as a traditional wife and Ananya Sen Gupta as a glamor doll. It seems that both of them overacted. 'Getup' Sheenu and 'Auto' Ram Prasad as the hero's friends failed to make people laugh. Prithvi played the role of a Samaram-like doctor in '30 Years'.
What is the final say? : Fans of 'Dandupalayam' series will love the pre-climax of 'Taghgede Le'. Ravi Shankar's acting too! Srinivas Raju directed the action sequence in Daba at the level of those movies. If the pre-climax is missed... the rest of the movie will be very difficult to impress. In some scenes, the song of Mate Mantra gives a headache. Despite the content of the story... Srinivas Raju has failed to bring it to the screen and tell it with interest. Romance (romantic scenes) did not drive the film.