With the routine style of narrative and bland screenplay, 'Tiger Nageswara Rao' is marred by confused scriptwriting.
Ravi Teja's 'Tiger Nageswara Rao' is a period action drama. (X)
Tiger Nageswara Rao (Telugu)
People know little about habitual offender Tiger Nageswara Rao through newspaper articles, references in journals, and later YouTube interviews featuring his family or known friends from his Yerukula community.
His biopic, Tiger Nageswara Rao — starring actor Ravi Teja in the titular role — arrived in theatres on Friday, 20 October.
So, what’s the intriguing aspect of this real-life robber from a British settlement named Stuartpuram near Bapatla town? Let’s know in this review:
Yalamandha (played by Hareesh Peradi) and Kasi (Sudev Nair) hold sway of a small British settlement called Stuarpuram, abutting Bapatla town.
They mint money ruthlessly out of the sweat and blood of the local communities. That’s when Nageswara Rao (Ravi Teja) emerges, facing oppression and injustice as a child.
Rather than questioning them, he would turn to thefts — especially robberies and bank heists. The major among them is robbing the food supplies from the train on the river Godavari. Challenging the police before committing a crime is his signature style.
And one day, he would call the Prime Minister’s Office to tell his next move. Alarmed by this, Intelligence Bureau Raghavendra Rajput (Anupam Kher) calls for an emergency meeting with his officials.
As an officer overseeing the security of PM Indira Gandhi, how does he tackle it? What does Tiger Nageswara Rao do after reaching Delhi? What’s the fate of Stuarpuram is the story to watch out for.
Tiger is all yours from today 🤗
See you at the theatres :)))#TigerNageswaraRao pic.twitter.com/F8vNMZo2a8— Ravi Teja (@RaviTeja_offl) October 20, 2023
A poster of ‘Tiger Nageswara Rao’. (X)
Director Vamsee sets the story in motion with a captivating train robbery.
Nageswara Rao and his men hatch a plot to break into the Circar Express. The task is to steal the food supplies from the train and safely divert them through boats.
When you start feeling that the heroic episode of the train robbery gave an impressive start to the story, it doesn’t take much time to realise that it’s just bait to make you sit for three long hours.
Murali Sharma, who knew Tiger Nageswara Rao and his modus operandi of crimes, gets a call from Anupam Kher to discuss something serious of national importance. After arriving in Delhi, even before learning about the nature of the crimes committed by Tiger Nagi, Murali Sharma gets into a confrontation mode with Anupam Kher.
There would be a roar-like dialogue from Tiger Nagi before he takes up a machete to slay his opponents. And the blood-splattering bodies keep flying in the air. And, no sumos this time because it’s a period drama — only daggers and machetes.
Tiger Nagi’s popularity reaches Calcutta to the East after he successfully gets gold loot to help Angi Seth (Pradeep Rawat). As Nagi’s popularity grows, he encounters a college girl named Sara from the Marwadi community. And love happens.
When the story shifts to Madras, characters keep blabbering in Tamil.
If you’re generous, you may forgive the director for not providing subtitles because he substituted this by making Indira Gandhi speak in Telugu. Yes, the Prime Minister discusses the security issues with IG officer Anuper Kher, not in Hindi but in Telugu!
Here, you are to pay attention, even though you are tired — characters like Gajjala Prasad and Inspector Mouli keep flashing on the screen.
Mouli is somewhat bearable because of his characterisation. The inspector looks dreadful as he frightens the offenders with his acts of violence.
Ravi Teja in a still from director Vamsee’s ‘Tiger Nageswara Rao’. (X)
With the routine style of narrative and bland screenplay, Tiger Nageswara Rao is marred by confused scriptwriting.
Director Vamsee topples at trying too much rather than telling an honest story.
The hero elevation sequences, routine fight sequences, and bland unromantic love episodes sink the film.
Vamsee fails to handle how to tell the story on the screen. For example, the villagers of Stuarpuram say that the government laid roads and currents to catch hold of Tiger Nagi.
There was no attempt made to showcase what Stuartpuram was. Nothing was shown about the community nor why Stuartpuram — once a correctional facility — was established to reform the criminals.
The movie lacks the flair of a true story.
Ravi Teja doesn’t fit to make a character like this sort because his bodily attire doesn’t convince the audience of the thief role.
Nageswara Rao was shown as a true athlete, known for his daredevilry acts. Ravi Teja’s body language as the thief doesn’t fit into the shoes.
Nupur Sanon and Gayatri Bharadwaj are impressive.
Jisshu Sengupta as Inspector Mouli is good.
Anupam Kher and Murali Sharma chip in well.
Renu Desai as social activist Hemalatha Lavanam appears at the pre-climax block. She recalls the story of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre to rescue a woman suffering from labour while fighting against CI Mouli.
Again, a sermon from the Bhagavad Gita comes from her mouth, explaining the importance of Nishkama Karma — all this to explain the heroics of Tiger Nagi.
Except for the train burglary episode, which is an impressive work of visual effects, Tiger Nageswara Rao looks like a skewed and imaginary tale of director Vamsee.
It is away from the reality of what Nageswara Rao had gone through in his life!
(Views expressed here are personal.)
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