‘Ramrao On Duty’ movie review: Directed by Sarath Mandawa, Ravi Teja’s film has neither chutzpah nor content

A day before the release of the film, director Sarath Mandawa had tweeted requesting the audience to come to the theaters without any pre-requisites. They said that Rama Rao on duty ‘Mass Maharaja’ is a content-driven film in the Ravi Teja genre; He urged everyone not to miss the opening scene and requested that no spoilers be revealed. I wish the movie lived up to that intrigue!

The story follows an honest government official who takes on corrupt police officers involved in smuggling red sandalwood and solves the mystery of the missing. It is told in a way that requires immense patience to watch till the end. The film is open ended with scope for sequels. any takers?

Ravi Teja plays the titular character of Deputy Collector Rama Rao, who is described as controversial, calculative and well-intentioned. He is farmer friendly and ensures disciplined work culture in the government office. He crosses paths with police officer Murali (Venu Thottampudi). Also, Rama Rao’s attempt to investigate the disappearance of the husband of his former lady Prem Malini (Rajisha Vijayan) leads him to a nexus of red sandalwood smugglers.

The film is in no hurry to get to the bottom of the story. We get a tall sequence that establishes how Rama Rao works. If what we see isn’t enough, supporting characters continue to explain more of the sequence and praise its qualities. This happens throughout the film, even as Malini recounts their love story. Rajisha Vijayan is honest and efficient in the task assigned to her, but she is wasted in a heavy part.

There are many supporting characters in the film, most of whom are barely getting to do anything memorable. Divyansha Kaushik as Rama Rao’s wife Nandini sometimes speaks a line or two when she is not tearing into the background. It is only during the sequence of romantic songs that he gets some focus.

Some important characters are made to speak with exaggerated accents, such as Murali who wears his accent on his sleeve and SP Devananda (who is a waste of John Vijay, especially in the latter Sarpatta Parambrai) whose manner of speaking is just peculiar and does not serve any purpose.

Since the story is set in the 1990s, we see Rama Rao relying more on on-field investigations with less help of technology. The investigation itself is fairly common, but that is a different bone of contention. She is also depicted as bisexual, a quality that adds nothing to her characterization or story. Ravi Teja does what is required for his part but we have seen him do much better.

The stunt sequences are stale and no matter how many men are thrown in the air and spin in slow motion, it doesn’t pack a punch. A plot connected with forest area and red sandalwood smuggling may remind us Pushpa – UdayBut this movie just doesn’t have that chutzpah. Nor is it inspired by the kind of content the creators would like to believe.

Towards the end, it turns out to be a brave move when new characters are revealed and the way is paved for the sequel. Whoever thought this story, characters and setting had so much potential! Spare a thought for the critics who have had to watch this dreary film out of duty.