Movie Name : Dhandoraa
Release Date : Dec 25, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5
Starring : Shivaji, Navdeep, Nandu, Bindu Madhavi and Others
Director : Murali Kanth Devasoth
Producers : Ravindra Benerjee Muppaneni
Music Director : Mark K Robin
Cinematographers : Venkat R. Shakamuri
Editor : Srujana Adusumilli
Related Links : Trailer
Small-budget film Dhandoraa, starring Sivaji, Nandu, Ravi Krishna, and others in the lead roles, gained decent buzz with its promotional material. The film hit the screens today, and let’s see how it is.
Story:
Set in unified Andhra Pradesh in 2004, the film explores the lives of Sivaji (Sivaji), a farmer, and his children, Vishnu (Nandu) and Sujatha (Manika). Ravi (Ravi Krishna), a man from a lower caste, falls in love with Sujatha, who belongs to an upper caste, and she reciprocates. However, things take a shocking turn when Sivaji’s friends, who also belong to his community, do something unexpected.
Plus Points:
So far, many films have explored caste discrimination in Telugu cinema, but the USP of Dhandoraa is that the director brings a fresh dimension, giving the film a unique touch compared to others in a similar space. Dhandoraa also showcases the discrimination that once existed, with lower-caste people being oppressed by the upper caste, but the movie adds another angle, where an upper-caste man himself suffers.
The suffering of the victim belonging to the upper caste is introduced right at the beginning, creating intrigue, after which the narrative shifts into a flashback. Later, this theme is explored in detail in the second half. The final hour forms the heart of the film, where a lot of events unfold, and things begin to fall into place. From the courtroom sequence to the climax, the film shifts into a different mode.
The drama in the final minutes is well-written and presented with subtle high points. The interaction between Nandu and Raadhya in the climax is superb, giving the film a satisfactory ending. After Court, Sivaji once again unleashes his brilliance in Dhandoraa in a role with negative shades. His commanding screen presence and thunderous depth of voice grab attention, and he is set to become a go-to actor for important roles in Tollywood going forward.
Ravi Krishna is good in his role and also gets to showcase his dancing skills while playing a die hard Megastar Chiranjeevi fan. Manika does well as Sivaji’s daughter. Nandu, portraying a character who does not agree with his father’s actions, puts in a fine performance, with his role gaining more prominence as the film progresses.
Dhandoraa remains serious for the most part, and Navdeep, as the sarpanch, is a breath of fresh air, providing laughs through his frustration. His dance during the end credits is also quite enjoyable. Bindhu Madhavi, Muralidhar Goud, Raadhya, and others did well.
Minus Points:
Dhandoraa has neat intentions, and the film ends on a good note. However, the first half could have been much better and it suffers from pacing issues. The movie follows a back-and-forth screenplay, and the transitions between the two timelines are not always smooth.
The film had all the ingredients to be a superb rural drama, but the dragged moments in the initial portions hold it back. The narrative doesn’t progress in a seamless manner in the first half, giving a disjointed feel. It is only from the pre-interval portions that the film starts gaining momentum after an interesting start.
The dynamic between Sivaji and Bindhu Madhavi works well, but the movie should have showcased how they met for better impact. Similarly, there are some scenes that require indirect inference from the audience, and this could reduce the overall impact.
Technical Aspects:
Mark Robin’s music is pretty good. The songs have a catchy vibe that lifts the energy levels, and the background score is also effective. Venkat Shakamuri’s cinematography is neat, presenting the raw and rustic nature of the film well. The interval sequence, in particular, is well captured. The production values are fine.
The editing is done as per the director’s vision, and as mentioned earlier, the back-and-forth screenplay could have been more effective. That said, director Muralikanth deserves appreciation for touching upon a social issue that still exists and handling it in a mature manner with a fresh dimension. The way the second half is dealt with helps the film position itself differently in this space while still addressing discrimination.
Verdict:
On the whole, Dhandoraa is an honest attempt that tackles caste discrimination with a fair second half. The movie brings in a new dimension, making it different from other movies that have explored this topic. Everyone delivers a solid performance, and the drama in the last thirty minutes is neat. However, the first half isn’t up to the mark, and there are a few loose ends in the plot. Some scenes could have been shortened. Despite its flaws, Dhandoraa can be given a try for its sincere intent.
123telugu.com Rating: 3/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team
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