Dacoit REVIEW: Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur’s Underwhelming Romeo-Juliet Drama Is Easy To Decode, Ask Anurag Kashyap

Film:
Dacoit

Director: Shaneil Deo

Writers: Shaneil Deo, Adivi Sesh

Cast: Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur, Prakash Raj, Anurag Kashyap, Atul Kulkarani, Marie Zayn Khan

Platform: In Theatres

Runtime: 2 hours 32 minutes

Dacoit – Ek Prem Katha Review

Dacoit – Ek Prem Katha is exactly what the title is and more – but not in a very positive sense. Why do I say that? Well, it is the love story of dacoits, however, the love seems superficial and the dakaiti (robberies) seem very amateur. The makers try to tell a tragic love story of star-crossed lovers who are separated by family and class but it ends up looking like a mash up of several films Bollywood has produced in the past.

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A post shared by Mrunal Thakur (@mrunalthakur)

The film is centred on the lives of Hari (Adivi Sesh) and Saraswati aka Juliet (Mrunal Thakur). While Saraswati is a young girl (wanting to study MBBS and become a doctor) from an affluent family, Hari is smart looking but not highly educated Harijan (someone belonging to the lower caste). They two fall in love and are in a well-hidden relationship for years before all hell broke loose. What unfolds here transforms the classic tragic Romeo-Juliet love story into one of betrayal and revenge. But what happened that one fated night? Why do we meet our ‘hero’ as he’s serving time in jail (FYI: He’s 13 years in prison when we meet him)? Why does Hari hate his Juliet and keeps cursing her every opportunity he gets (or can create)? Also, what role does Anurag Kashyap play in their romance?

To know these answers, you will need to watch Dacoit – Ek Prem Katha and here’s our honest review on whether or not it’s worth investing 2.5 hours.

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A post shared by Mrunal Thakur (@mrunalthakur)

What Works

The acting by Anurag Kashyap, Atul Kulkarani and at times Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur. Aside from them, the only other things that works in favour of Dacoit is a twist towards the end and some other moments where Adivi mesmerises viewers with his eyes.

What Doesn’t Work

The list is not short. The music is loud, the editing botched and several dialogues that are cringy AF. The narrative from the very beginning is all over the place and you will realise that as soon as the first flashback scene appears.

Technical Analysis

Direction

Shaneil Deo needs to pull up his socks and deliver a much better product the next time he gets behind the camera. While he manages to capture the rawness in Anurag’s eye, he fails in making us believe Hari and Juliet were really in love and still have feelings for each other when their revengefully reunite 13 years later.

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A post shared by Sesh Adivi (@adivisesh)

Story & Screenplay

The writer – Shaneil Deo and Adivi Sesh, in an attempt to make this Romeo and Juliet tragic love story more blood soaked and filled with betrayal, penned a narrative that’s loaded but unclear. The first hour is slow and stretched that you may want to get up and stretch you legs or back before the interval begins. However, kudos to the duo for that one twist – it was unexpected and one of the best seen in this genre.

Music

When we think love story – even tragic, revenge ones at that, we expect a good song or two; however, Dacoit fails in delivering in this department. None of the tracks stay with you even before the end credits roll by. The BGM while good in some sequences, get to jarring in others.

Editing

Bad.

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A post shared by Mrunal Thakur (@mrunalthakur)

Star Cast Performance

Adivi Sesh, who has consistently delivered films marked by a distinct style and strong box office performance, seems to be making cameo appearances in Dacoit. It uncomfortable to see him as the rude, rugged Hari hell-bent on taking revenge on the girl he loved because she backstabbed him and chose her family over him. He shines bright when it comes to action and is pretty much on the opposite side of the spectrum when it come to love part (script problem, not his).

Mrunal Thakur, who has delivered heart-touching performances in Sita Raman, Hi Nana and more, manages to connect emotionally with the audience but the connection fluctuates. You can see her heartbreak, the many dilemmas she’s facing, but you can never feel them – and its not Mrunal’s fault.

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A post shared by Mrunal Thakur (@mrunalthakur)

Anurag Kashyap is the true star of this film. He not only commands the screen from the moment he enters but manages to hold the whole narrative together with his don’t-mess-with-me and Hard-outside-soft-inside personalities. Prakash Raj, who has always dominated the screen as the villain in films like Wanted, Singham, Pokiri, Ghilli, is underutilized here. This is by far the weakest evil character I’ve seen him play.

Marie Zayn Khan also delivers in the limited screentime she gets. Seasoned actor Atul Kulkarni seems wasted in his roles and the character had potential but turned out to be more a loving nanny than anything else!

Conclusion

While the first half is slow and all over the place, the last 15 minutes is the most engaging and emotion filled. Anurag Kashyap decoding the truth behind how and why Romeo and Juliet’s love story turned tragic will really help those who zoned out during the 2 hours or failed to keep up. It’s safe to say, the makers bit more than they could chew.

Watch the trailer of Dacoit – Ek Prem Katha here:

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Grinell Jacinto

With nearly 10 years of experience, Grinell Esther Jacinto is the Desk Head of Bollywood Bubble. Her interests lie in everything that is kaleshi and she loves to dig deeper into the lives of B-town actors. She has a problem though – she loves horror films but will have chills the minute the theatres lights dims. She’s previously worked with Koimoi, UrbanAsian and SpotboyE.