Dev Gill, an actor who initially made his mark in Telugu cinema as a villain with Magadheera, is now trying his luck as a hero after 15 years in the industry. His latest film, Aho Vikramarka is directed by Trikoti, a longtime senior associate of Rajamouli. The movie was released simultaneously in Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, and Tamil. Read our review here.
Story: In Pune, around 1,200 laborers from a colony mysteriously go missing for 25 years, unaware of their whereabouts or even if they are still alive. Meanwhile, Vikramarka (Dev Gill), newly transferred to the Pune police station, stumbles upon this perplexing case. The story of Aho Vikramarka revolves around the connection between these 1,200 missing people and Vikramarka. Did he manage to save them? What challenges did he encounter along the way? This forms the crux of the film.
Performances: Tejaswini Pandit stands out as the only actress who delivered her Telugu dialogues with perfect lip sync, bringing depth to her character. She shines as a powerful cop and delivers an even more compelling performance in her role as a mother. On the other hand, Dev Gill struggles with basic expressions, showing little variation across scenes. However, he excels in the action sequences, clearly putting in a lot of effort. Chitra Shukla, as the heroine is okay but she does not have much to do. Praveen Tharde as the main villain overacts like there is no tomorrow.
Technical Aspects: The production design seems disconnected from the film’s content, though it’s clear no expense was spared in its execution. The art department’s efforts are commendable, but unfortunately, their work has not received the recognition it deserves. From music director Ravi Basrur to the director, the overall quality of work falls disappointingly short. Aside from the fight scenes, the film lacks any standout moments that showcase director Trikoti’s talent. The music is bad but the BGM was just about okay. The screenplay is a huge mess and not one scene makes sense.
Analysis: Aha Vikramarka has so many issues that it is hard to pen all of them here. The story itself isn’t new, and it’s puzzling why Trikoti didn’t at least try to present the narrative or scenes more compellingly. Many scenes unintentionally come across as comedic. One particularly baffling moment is the emotional song at the end, where the 6-foot-tall hero is awkwardly placed in bed with a blanket swing tied to it, an idea that defies logic.
The film is filled with unintentionally funny scenes, leaving little else to be said. The interval block is handled well but that is only the moment we can talk about with utmost confidence. Dev Gill needs to go to acting classes as he is expressionless. The way he has made things look so dull is the worst part of the film.
Aho Vikramarka has mostly Marathi actors and the flavor is also non-Telugu. The film is very loud and does not make sense at all in the second half. The pace is slow and the editing is pathetic. There is the flavor of KGF as well but one can say that it is a very cheap copy of the film. One gets a feeling that Dev Gill needs to get back to the negative roles and make a comeback.
Verdict: Overall, Aha Vikramarka is a bland, over-the-top, and silly action drama. The star cast acts like there is no tomorrow and the direction by Trikoti is silly to the core. The only solace is the action blocks which make some sense.
Bottom Line: Stay away from this one
Rating: 1/5
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