Release Date : December 01, 2023
123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5
Starring: Naga Chaitanya, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Prachi Desai, Pasupathy, Ravindra Vijay, Tharun Bhascker, Rohini, Anish Kuruvilla, Tanikella Bharani, Eeshwari Rao, Raja Goutham
Director: Vikram K Kumar
Producers: Sharrath Marar
Music Director: Ishaan Chhabra
Cinematographer: Mikolaj Sygula
Editor: Navin Nooli
Related Links : Trailer
Dhootha marks the OTT debut of Tollywood actor Naga Chaitanya. The series, written and directed by Vikram K Kumar, is currently available for streaming in multiple languages.
Story:
Sagar (Naga Chaitanya), a renowned journalist, becomes the Chief Editor of Samachar newspaper. Sagar is highly elated with this promotion, but his happiness doesn’t last long as a series of tragedies occur in his life. What’s even more startling is that a few newspaper clippings predict these tragedies in advance. How is that even possible? Does Sagar have any enemies in his profession? Did Sagar manage to unravel the mystery behind the newspaper clippings? This is what Dhootha is about.
Plus Points:
How a story is told matters the most, and this is where directors’ skills come into the picture. The basic plot of Dhootha isn’t novel and is, in fact, similar to Vikram Kumar’s old film, 13B. But the storytelling approach is pretty good. It isn’t a piece of cake to tell a known story in an intriguing manner, but Vikram K Kumar does that with conviction. He takes us into the story right from the first episode. The suspense is well-built with solid usage of background score, arresting visuals, and amazing production design.
Thrilling moments keep coming our way continuously. The way a few deaths are showcased is breathtaking, and these crime scenes keep us on the edge of our seats. Vikram K Kumar gives a powerful message to the society, and it doesn’t look forceful at all. There are multiple layers and characters in the show. In the end, all the dots are connected neatly. Every character keeps driving the story forward.
Naga Chaitanya makes an impressive OTT debut with Dhootha. His character has two shades, and the Akkineni actor does a fantastic job. As a person who strives for the safety of his family, Naga Chaitanya lived in the role completely. He emoted pretty well in emotional sequences, too. Parvathy Thiruvothu steals the show with her thumping performance. It takes a while to get adjusted to her dubbing, but after that, there is no looking back.
Priya Bhavani Shankar, Prachi Desai, Pasupathy, Ravindra Vijay, Tharun Bhascker, and others did a solid job in their respective roles. The climax episode, where the twists unravel one by one, is pretty good. The rain backdrop throughout the series enhances the viewing experience.
Minus Points:
The flashback portions didn’t make much impact. The scenes in these flashback portions could have been executed in a better manner, as this is where the series lacks the punch.
Also, Dhootha could have done with a shorter runtime for a better impact. Particularly, the pacing drops in the mid-episodes. The series has a few cuss words, which may not sit well with a few sections of the audience.
Technical Aspects:
Ishaan Chhabra’s eerie background score is intriguing. The cinematography by Mikolaj Sygula is top-notch. The makers spent a bomb on the series, as every frame looks solid. The editing could have been better, though.
Though Vikram K Kumar disappointed with his previous outing, he makes up for it with Dhootha. The plot is simple, but the director has narrated it in a gripping manner by adding multiple layers. Also there is a good message to the society.
Verdict:
On the whole, Dhootha is a captivating mystery thriller that has a good number of interesting moments. Despite the plot not being novel, the narrative keeps one engaged for the most part. The terrific performances by the cast and the solid technical values are the main assets of Dhootha. However, the runtime could have been shorter, and the flashback portions could have been better. Nonetheless, this Naga Chaitanya starrer is a good watch this weekend.
123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team