Cast: Ravi Teja, Nupur Sanon, Gayathri Bharadwaj, Anupam Kher, Renu Desai, Murali Sharma
Direction: Vamsee
Music: G.V. Prakash Kumar
Producer: Abhishek Agarwal
Ravi Teja, who delivered hits with ‘Dhamaka’ and ‘Waltair Veerayya’ recently, has pinned all his hopes on his first Pan Indian movie ‘Tiger Nageshwar Rao.’ The movie draws inspiration from a renowned thief of the 1980s and the Stuartpuram crisis. Rather than emphasizing TNR’s thrilling heists, daring escapades, and the intense pursuit by law enforcement, the film delves deeper into his personal life, offering a different perspective on the story.
Story:
In this film, Ravi Teja plays the role of the famous thief Tiger Nageswara Rao and delivers a convincing performance. His success in the role is more about his transformation in appearance and a departure from his usual hyper-energetic roles. Throughout the movie, Ravi Teja delivers a sincere performance, though the character may not stand out as a highlight in his filmography.
The heroines, Nupur Sanon and Gayatri Bharadwaj, play typical heroine roles competently, with nothing particularly remarkable but no complaints either.
Renu Desai is given a subtle yet somewhat dull character, and despite having decent screen time, her character and on-screen performance make little impact.
Analysis:
Directed by Vamsee, ‘Tiger Nageswara Rao’ is inspired by the real-life character of a famous thief from the 1980s and the Stuartpuram crisis. The film takes a different approach by focusing more on TNR’s personal life than on his thrilling robberies and the cat-and-mouse game with the police, which is the core of the story.
The movie starts on a high note with a fresh and intriguing train robbery episode, instantly captivating the audience. The period setting and Nageswara Rao’s introduction through a flashback narrated by Murali Sharma maintain the momentum for a good thirty minutes.
However, the narrative shifts to a love track, and the rest of the first half, including the crucial interval sequence where Nageswara Rao targets the Prime Minister’s house, becomes barely passable. The love track’s writing and execution, along with a lackluster song, contribute to the film’s slow pace.
The second half takes a different direction as Nassar shares TNR’s past with Anupam Kher. Unfortunately, the thrilling robberies and escapades are absent in the second half, and the film focuses on depicting TNR as a Robin Hood figure. This leads to an extended and slow-paced drama involving student issues and a one-sided love track. Surprisingly, Renu Desai’s character adds to the overall dullness.
Apart from one well-composed, violent action sequence in the second half, there isn’t much that stands out. The background score, which started strong, deteriorates as the film progresses. The essence of a mastermind thief and his daring heists gradually fades as the film moves forward.
Highlights:
Compelling starting train robbery
First 30 minutes
Action block in the second half
Core theme
Drawbacks:
Lengthy runtime
Second half drags
Dull drama
Songs and love tracks
Lack of thrilling moments and highs
Verdict:
Ultimately, ‘Tiger Nageswara Rao’ begins on a high note but gradually loses its momentum, leading to a protracted runtime with limited captivating moments, notwithstanding its distinct backdrop.