'Zebra' Movie Review

'Zebra' Movie Review

Actors: Satyadev, Daali Dhananjaya, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Sathyaraj, Sunil, Sathya, Amrutha Iyengar and others.

Music: Ravi Basrur

Cinematography: Satya Ponmar

Producers: Balasundaram, S.N.Reddy, Dinesh Sundaram

Written: Eeshwar Karthik, Yuva, Meerakh

Directed by: Eeshwar Karthik

Talented actor Satyadev, who began his career as a character artist and has since ascended to lead roles, takes centre stage in the film Zebra. This gripping thriller brings together a diverse cast, with Sunil and Sathya from Telugu, Daali Dhananjaya from Kannada, and Priya Bhavani Shankar and Sathyaraj from Tamil. A unique blend of languages and cultures, Zebra has finally arrived before the audience. Let's dive into the standout features of this intriguing movie.

Story: Surya (Satyadev) works at the Bank of Trust and has an intricate knowledge of the banking system's loopholes. Whenever faced with a problem, he cleverly navigates his way out using his expertise. His love interest, Swathi (Priya Bhavani Shankar), also works at a different bank. When Swathi accidentally transfers 4 lakh rupees to the wrong account, Surya uses his skills to recover the money in his own unique way. However, his actions set off a chain of events that lead him into deep trouble. Surya soon finds himself owing 5 crore rupees to Adi (Daali Dhananjaya), a ruthless mafia don. With just four days to pay the money or face dire consequences, Surya scrambles to earn the amount. But the more he tries to fix the situation, the deeper he gets into trouble. The story unfolds as Surya faces the mystery behind the 5 crore dispute, the mastermind behind his predicament, and how he manages to extricate himself from this dangerous mess.

Analysis: When a film sets a benchmark in a particular genre, it becomes increasingly difficult for subsequent films with similar themes to meet audience expectations. Even if the content is of reasonable quality, comparisons with the earlier film often lead to disappointment. This is particularly true for stories that explore similar tropes, such as a hero exploiting loopholes in the banking system. The film Lucky Bhaskar recently captured the audience's attention by executing this theme effectively, and now, Zebra enters the scene with a similar premise. The hero of Zebra is also a bank employee who uses his knowledge of the banking system to play a high-stakes game. However, despite the plot's resemblance to Lucky Bhaskar, Zebra fails to live up to its predecessor's success. The story, which is packed with multiple layers and characters, struggles to engage the audience due to poor execution.

In Zebra, Satyadev plays the lead role, but the film's focus isn't solely on him. The narrative brings in several similar characters, with notable performances from Daali Dhananjaya (known for his role in Pushpa), who is elevated to a more significant position than the protagonist, and Sunil, who garners attention with his diverse character getups. Satya, known for Mathu Vadalara-2, brings his unique brand of humor, while Satyaraj offers a strong cameo performance. However, the film suffers from an overload of characters, which detracts from the main story. Instead of focusing on a cohesive narrative, the film becomes bogged down by numerous subplots, leading to a disconnected and confusing viewing experience.

The film's pacing is rushed, and its narration is muddled, with scenes that seem forced and lacking logical continuity. While the story moves quickly, it leaves the audience struggling to keep up. Daali Dhananjaya's character, in particular, is inconsistent; despite being involved in massive deals, the logic behind his insistence on a relatively small sum of money-five crores-doesn't add up. The backstory of his character also feels overly drawn-out and tedious, testing the audience's patience. Zebra attempts to weave multiple layers into its narrative, but the director's approach only serves to confuse the audience further, leaving them uncertain of the film's core message. Though there's a weak attempt to tie up loose ends in the final moments, it does little to resolve the confusion that builds throughout the film.

The scenes where the hero manipulates banking loopholes provide brief moments of engagement, but these moments are undermined by plot holes and illogical resolutions. One such sequence, where the hero robs a bank and steals two and a half crores, holds potential but is executed in a way that feels overly convenient. Unfortunately, these instances don't offer enough substance to offset the film's shortcomings. Viewers who have seen Lucky Bhaskar are likely to draw comparisons and feel that Zebra falls short in every department. While the film is packed with twists and turns, they don't feel earned and often disrupt the flow of the narrative. At a runtime of two and a half hours, the film is weighed down by unnecessary scenes that add little to the story. Overall, while Zebra offers glimpses of intrigue, its dull execution and confusing narrative prevent it from making a lasting impact.

Performances: Satyadev delivers a sincere performance as Surya, effectively capturing the intensity of his role from start to finish. His look and body language are well-suited to the character, and he keeps the audience engaged throughout. Priya Bhavani Shankar's performance is adequate, while Daali Dhananjaya stands out as a non-heroic hero. His screen presence is notable, and his deep voice adds to his effectiveness, though he builds up his role to an extent that might bore some viewers. Satyaraj's portrayal of a somewhat eccentric character adds a touch of quirkiness that contrasts nicely with the film's serious tone. Satya's comedy, following his success in Mathu Vadalara-2, brings moments of levity and laughter. Sunil shines in a variety of roles, bringing freshness to his performances, and Garuda Ram makes a memorable appearance towards the end. The rest of the supporting cast delivers solid performances.

Technicians: Zebra excels in its technical aspects. Ravi Basrur's background music stands out as a major highlight, effectively enhancing the film's tense and fast-paced atmosphere. The background score flows seamlessly, adding to the film's overall racy feel. However, the songs do not play a significant role in this narrative. Satya Ponmar's cinematography is commendable, capturing good-quality visuals that set the film apart from other projects featuring Satyadev as the lead. The screenplay, crafted by writer-director Eeshwar Karthik, along with co-writer Yuva-Meerakh, presents an intricate story that is not easy to convey. Unfortunately, Karthik struggles with the narrative, often confusing the audience and failing to make a strong impact, except in a few standout scenes.

Verdict: Messy Story-Satyadev shines.

Rating-2.5/5