Name: Dasara (2023)
Genre: Action, Drama
Released: 2023-03-30
Rating: 6.0
Cast: Nani, Keerthy Suresh, Samuthirakani, Sai kumar, Dheekshith Shetty

Dasara is a Telugu drama film, directed by Srikanth Odela. It stars Nani & Keerthy Suresh in the lead role.

Dasara (2023)

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Debutant Srikanth Odela’s Dasara is a mixed bag and there’s no two ways about it. On one hand, the film is visually gripping, the characters seem like they’ve more to offer and the atmosphere feels like everything is about to come undone at any second. On the other hand, Srikanth sets up themes he never fully explores, or worse, wraps them up with hasty conclusions. Due to that, the sucker punches hit you hard and the rest…they just don’t.
The setting is Veerlapally. Drinking at the Silk Bar (an ode to the owner’s love for Silk Smitha) here isn’t an addiction, it’s tradition. Despite everyone pumping money into the bar, not everyone is allowed inside due to casteism running rampant. But the men don’t seem to mind, much to the chagrin of the women in the village. Everyone seems covered at all times in a layer of soot due to the coal mining in the village. Rajanna (Sai Kumar), Shivanna (Samuthirakani) and the latter’s son Chinna Nambi (Shine Tom Chacko) tussle for power, but the one in control of the liquor always wins.
Dharani (Nani) fears a lot of things since childhood. He’d rather not speak up in uncomfortable situations and as a child, he loses bladder control if he hears a cat shriek nearby. One day his grandma tells him that she drinks to keep fear at bay, to no one’s surprise, Dharani is always found with bottles hanging off his waist at any given time. Suri (Deekshith Shetty) is his best friend and Dharani will do anything for him. Even if it means 'giving up' his love for Vennela (Keerthy Suresh), who also has eyes for only Suri.
As much as Dharani and his tribe of underdogs want to steal coal off trains, drink themselves to an early death and be left alone in their tomfoolery, they’re dragged into something bigger. An issue snowballs, hidden agendas revealed, body count racked up till Dharani will have to learn to face his fears without the help of his trusty friends – alcohol and Suri.
Srikanth spends most of the first half of the film setting up the world of Veerlapally and the characters that reside in it. He spends ample time on the small moments. After something major upends everyone’s lives, you expect Srikanth to go full throttle in the second half. Instead, he lets his characters sit with their emotions. This doesn’t necessarily translate to scenes that keep you fully engaged. Some don’t hold your attention, some are too heavy, and the much-hyped song Chamkeela Angeelesi just comes out of nowhere. He also doesn’t dig deep enough into some of the topics he explores.
However, when Srikanth delivers, he does it with full assuredness. Few scenes in Dasara stay with you long after the film is done. The pre-interval is chilling, it’s not your usual ‘interval bang,’ you really don’t know where it’s going to go from here. The climax is cathartic and bloody, with the director going full throttle and refusing to hold back. The massy, elevation scenes work, so do the emotional ones for the most part. Women in this universe suffer due to the men’s choices, but they also sometimes get their say.
Nani gives his sweat, blood, and tears to playing Dharani. After Jersey, this is probably his heaviest film till date and he carries it on his shoulders. Keerthy Suresh excels in some scenes and not so much in others. She’s a delight to watch when she’s dancing at a baraat but you feel frustrated when she acts hammy in a key scene. Shine Tom Chacko gets the chance to be unhinged in a scene, but he feels wasted otherwise. The same holds true for Sai Kumar and Samuthirakani. Poorna and Deekshith play their parts well. Sathyan Sooryan’s cinematography is a major plus for the film, so is Santhosh Narayanan’s music.
Dasara is not the film that leaves you with a smile at the end of it all, it also doesn’t reinvent the wheel. Could it have been better? Sure. But Srikanth Odela and Nani make this slow burn work. So, credit where credit is due.

Nani has been everywhere for the past few weeks. Be it promotional events or social media, he went all out in promoting Dasara as a pan-Indian venture. When the trailer of Dasara dropped, many felt that it reminded them of Pushpa and KGF. However, Dasara was neither Pushpa nor it was KGF. It had Srikanth Odela’s stamp despite the predictable storyline.
Dharani (Nani), Suri (Deekshit Shetty) and Vennela (Keerthy Suresh) are childhood friends. They hail from a village called Veerapally, where men take the bottle. Their alcoholism affects the women in their lives. Dharani and Suri are best friends. So much so that Dharani will give up his love for Vennela, who is in love with Suri. As Suri and Vennela take their relationship to the next level, it does not go down well with Chinna Nambi (Shine Tom Chacko). The village, where coal mining is a way of life, is divided because of Rajanna (Sai Kumar) and Shivanna (Samuthirakani).

Srikanth Odela is a debutant filmmaker, but he is a promising talent. With Dasara, he has built a semi-fictional world and has successfully transported us to the village of Veerapally. He shows Dharani as a vulnerable underdog. For a hero, he cries on screen, has no bladder control and shakes up in fear when trouble knocks on the door. In contrast, Suri, his friend, is his strength. While Dharani is naïve, Suri is practical. Meanwhile, there’s a feisty Vennela, who is a breath of fresh air.

Dasara is a film that relies on its drama. Srikanth Odela is in no hurry to dive into the story the right way. In fact, it looks like he knew he had a predictable storyline in hand and decided to build a world around it so he could create an immersive experience for everyone. Dasara has so many layers. The film talks about women and how they are exploited, rampant caste politics and superstition.
While the world-building, and characterisations of the lead roles and music make Dasara enjoyable, certain tropes hold the viewers back from completely enjoying this brilliantly shot revenge drama. In a scene, Dharani takes a decision which affects Vennela’s life. However, Dasara has another scene where Vennela questions whether she has a say in her life because she was never asked! And the hyper-masculine hero apologises.
The power dynamics in the village of Veerapally keep you hooked. However, some of the initial stretches of Dasara could test your patience. Nani’s Dharani holds back for the most part of the film, while Deekshit as Suri takes the cake. It is probably because of this that the interval sequence leaves you in a state of shock.
Nani is the soul of Dasara. From expressing his vulnerabilities to crying his heart out and emoting in silence, he has given his career-best performance. Keerthy, too, has a meaty role in the film. It is actually Suri who stole the show with his effortless acting.

Something that Srikanth Odela could have worked on is the characterisation of the villain, Shine Tom Chacko. It treads on a wafer-thin line and after a point, it does not create an impact.

Santhosh Narayanan’s music and Sathyan Sooryan’s visuals make Dasara what it is. The film could remind you of Dhanush’s Asuran and Rishab Shetty’s Kantara. While the film deals with a predictable story, it does have enough meat to hold onto its own.

Despite his best efforts, Nani hasn’t had a genuine hit since 2019’s Jersey. Having tried his hand at anti-hero, re-birth and comedy, the actor has now bet big on a story set in rustic Telangana. In fact, this is the biggest film of his career with a reported budget of over Rs 60 crore and a release in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam languages. Nani has openly declared that the film will be a massive hit and the debutant director, Shrikanth Odela, who assisted Sukumar on ‘Nannaku Prematho’ and ‘Rangasthalam’ earlier, will be his biggest contribution to the film industry. Nani aggressively promoted the film in Mumbai and parts of north India with the film’s trailer getting decent traction across India. Dasara also reunites Nani with Keerthy Suresh after 2017’s hit Nenu Local, and her deglamorized look in the promos has evoked keen interest. So, the story of a rugged, foul-mouthed coal thief, with the feel of Pushpa, has evoked a lot of interest.

Dasara is the story of friendship between Dharani (Nani) and Soori (Deekshith Shetty) and the love they have for Vennela (Keerthy Suresh). Set in a coal mining village of Veerlapalli, Dasara is also the story about the hard life the people in these parts lead. Shivanna (Samuthirakani), Chinna Nambi (Shine Tom Chacko) and Rajanna (Sai Kumar) represent both the liquor mafia and political power in the town. Teenager Dharani is in love with his friend Vennela, but before he can muster the courage to tell her, his close friend Soori tells him that he loves her. Dharani promptly withdraws and whole-heartedly supports Soori in his wooing of Vennela. Between their coal-thieving escapades and constant boozing, Dharani convinces the families of Soori and Vennela to get them married with the assurance that Soori would get into a steady job. Focused on confirming this alliance, Dharani unknowingly gets involved in local politics as the next-generation representative of Pedda Nambi family decides to have the panchayat sarpanch post for himself. How the politics plays havoc in their personal lives, and also in the village life, forms the rest of the story. In the process, the friendship and love stories are tested, the foundations of the village life and structure are tested and real love emerges as the winner.
The first half of the film runs at an uneven pace as too many things need to be established. The friendship among the lead characters comes out really nicely, particularly the bonding between Soori and Dharani. Dharani’s deeper love for Vennela also gets established in a simple sequence quite effectively. The way the local bar, Silk Bar, becomes a looming presence in the village life is shown in a novel way. However, the life surrounding mines is hardly established except in the ash filled surroundings and soot ridden air. The second half of the movie runs at a quicker pace. As Chinna Nambi’s (Tom Chacko) true colors are revealed, Dharani’s task is clear and cut out before him. Though his status with Vennela has changed now, he still cannot reveal his love for her openly. Nani showcases his suppressed love very well, with a scene between Nani and Keerthy becoming a highlight in the film. Perhaps the struggle between these two needed more time before the climax. After a huge climax sequence, and a brief break in the main events, the film concludes with a sequence at the Silk Bar again.
Maybe writer-director Shrikanth had too much on his plate as he had to showcase liquor trade, village politics, caste angle in the society, friendship and finally the love story. He is unable to weave in the various threads into the film. The ambition to reach a pan-India audience also perhaps weighed heavily on him. Samuthirakani’s character is given a positive ending with no real purpose in the story. Villain Chinna Nambi reveals a great secret to Vennela, which is not very convincing.

Shine Tom Chacko as Chinna Nambi tries his best to look mean and act tough. But as he himself does not get directly involved in many events, his villainy doesn’t amount to much. Sai Kumar did well within the parameters of his role. Samuthirakani perhaps needed a more nuanced writing with his character, Dheekshith, did well. Keerthy surprises with her ease and has a good grasp of the setting and dialect. Nani shines in the layered character.

Santhosh Narayan’s songs have already emerged as hits, and serve the story well. Avinash Kolla’s sets appear very authentic. Sathyan Sooryan’s camera also brings more depth to the film. Overall, Nani’s Dasara is a heartfelt attempt from the makers, but falters due to poor narration. Can be watched for the authentic dialect, and raw and gritty performances from the lead.


Popular movies often fall prey to the second half curse. The power-packed and engaging Dasara, directed and co-written by first-timer Srikanth Odela, does not. It treats its first half essentially as a springboard for a successful post-interval leap to a meaningfully higher plane. And that is where the film stays perched all the way to an impressively executed finale.

Other significant attributes set the Telugu-language film apart from blockbusters like Baahubali and Pushpa. Its exploration of entrenched caste dynamics, bitter political rivalries and debilitating social ills in a coal mining village in Telangana pushes it closer to Tamil films from the Pa. Ranjith, Vetrimaaran and Mari Selvaraj stables.

Dasara remains steadfastly within the parameters of mass-oriented cinema and employs familiar Ramayan-centric analogies to carry the story forward. It still manages to break free at crucial junctures from its stylistic inspirations to dress an old, even perhaps trite, construct in fresh, eye-catching attire.

Dasara is a rustic love story-cum-bromance dovetailed into a revenge drama with a strong emotional underpinning. The composite is presented with a directorial vision that suggests that Odela could, and should, produce works of greater originality and distinction. This film testifies to his skill - and the vision - to tap massy, easy to grasp methods to tell important stories.

The denuded landscape reflects the state of the lives that Dasara depicts. The film is set in Veerlapally village, a speck on the map. It is a place that swarms with men who drink themselves silly and the women bear the brunt of their unruliness. At the centre of the village is a bar - it is named after Silk Smitha - that is out of bounds for all but upper caste drunks.

The narrative straddles a decade and a half from mid-1995, the final year of NT Rama Rao's third term as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, to 2010. The film's two principal male characters - Dharani (Nani) and Soori (Deekshith Shetty) - pilfer coal from running goods trains when they are not sloshed.

They are in love with the same girl, Vennela (Keerthi Suresh). The three have been friends since childhood. The altruistic Nani, who is meek-natured and believes in staying off confrontations, steps back and lets his best friend profess his love to the girl.

Several years on, the love triangle is aggravated by unseemly power politics between Rajanna (Saikumar) and Shivanna (Samuthirakarani), two half-brothers at war for control of the village and the bar. The latter has a son, Nambi (Shine Tom Jacob), whose aggression triggers a tragedy at the film's halfway mark.

A blood-curdling act of violence throws Dharani's life into disarray. He is a cowering mess until he gathers the courage to plan a retaliation. The timid, responsibility-shirking man is forced to make a choice between being resigned to his fate and taking a stand.

The first half, expended on creating a context for what is follow, takes its own time to pick up momentum. Parts of it meander a tad and even feel somewhat wayward. But the turning point just ahead of the interval gives the deliberate and staccato pace a rationale.
The troubles that confront Dharani, whose name means Earth, Soori (meaning Sun) and Vennela (alluding to the Moon) are caused by one man. The villain's motives are hackneyed and the threats that he makes spring from the power that he wields on account of his political and caste clout.

One wishes Dasara had pushed the caste divide envelope a little further and also stressed upon the relationship between the three main characters with some more clarity in terms of its wider societal implications. Is it possible that Dharani's suppression of his love for Vennela has something to do with where he stands in the caste hierarchy? The film does not raise that question, let alone devote a minute or two to answer it.
Another point at which Dasara slips up a touch is in the manner in which the key female character is deprived of agency when it comes to deciding her own future? Dasara makes amends of sorts when the woman demands an explanation why her consent wasn't sought before a life-altering choice was made on her behalf. The man spells out why he did what he did. While his defence of his action isn't entirely convincing, his apology is.

In the matter of plotting and pacing, Dasara isn't perfect, but Sathyan Sooryan's lensing and lighting and Santhosh Narayanan's lush and phenomenally effective musical score are both of the highest order. The latter lends the film a propulsive rhythm with its blend of the earthy and the electronic.

Sooryan's camerawork creates a palette that alternates between the inky and the auburn and is skilfully illuminated by the muted glow of non-electrical sources of light.

A de-glammed Nani makes Dasara a high-voltage affair. The screenplay and his own acumen allow him to ease himself into the character arc and capture the man's evolution from a feckless, evasive youth to a man of action after fifteen Dasara celebrations have come and gone with him letting his life drift aimlessly.

Dasara also gives Keerthy Suresh a wide range of emotions to convey. Even in the most melodramatic of moments, she retains control of her faculties and the scene. Deekshith Shetty operates within a more limited bandwidth but makes a lasting impression. On the flip side, the force of evil that Shine Tom Chacko embodies does not convey the requisite menace.

The rousing climax is invested with great power in term of of both visualisation and execution. The weapons used in the final act as well as earlier in the film tell their own story. To begin with, the villain's henchmen wield sharp scythes and sickles, which are farming appliances-turned-arms.

In the violent climactic clash culminates in tree-cutting axes, digging shovels and rock-breaking hammers making an appearance - a not-so-subliminal metaphor for a once agricultural community that has been forced into mining as a way of life.

Dasara (Tamil) - Official Teaser | Nani, Keerthy Suresh | Srikanth Odela | Santhosh Narayanan

Dasara (Hindi) - Official Teaser | Nani, Keerthy Suresh | Srikant Odela | Santhosh Narayanan

Dasara Kannada Teaser | Nani | Keerthy Suresh | Santhosh Narayanan | Srikanth Odela

Nani is an Indian film actor, producer, media personality, and television presenter known for his work in Telugu cinema. He worked as an assistant director with Seenu Vylta and Bapu garu before auditioning for the main lead role in “Ashta Chamma”. Nani...

Nani

Keerthy Suresh is an actress who is best known for her work in the South Indian film industry. After working as a child artist in multiple films, Keerthy went on to appear as the lead in films like Geethaanjali, Nenu Local, Mahanati and Seema Raja among others. Her performances have earned her a series of awards and accolades over time.

Keerthy Suresh

Samuthirakani is a director and actor popular in the Tamil film industry. He is best known for his performances in films like Subramaniapuram, Easan, Saattai and Oppam. He has won several awards and accolades for his performances including the National Film Award.

Samuthirakani

Sai Kumar is an Indian actor who works primarily in the Malayalam film industry. His movies include Mili (2015), Ennu Ninte Moideen (2015), James And Alice (2016), Jacobinte Swargarajyam (2016). His 2017 movies include Puthan Panam, Ramaleela and Krishnam. He is associated with the 2018 Malayalam comedy Orayiram Kinakkalal directed by Pramod Mohan and Krishnam. His other popular releases include Koodasha (2018), directed by Dinu Thomas Eelan, Mr. & Ms. Rowdy (2019), Krishnam (2019), Lucifer (2019), Moonam Pralayam (2019), Bharaate (2019) and My Santa (2019)

Sai kumar

Dheekshith Shetty is an actor best known for The Rose Villa (2021).

Dheekshith Shetty

Shine Tom Chacko

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Shamna Kasim better known by the stage name Poorna, is an Indian actress, dancer and model who appears in Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil films. She made her acting debut in the 2004 Manju Poloru Penkutty. 

Dasara (2023)(2023)