When a filmmaker like SS Rajamouli backs a movie, expectations rise automatically. Don’t Trouble The Trouble is one such fantasy comedy headlined by Fahadh Faasil in his first Telugu film as a solo lead. Directed by Sashank Yeleti, the trailer promised a quirky entertainer filled with fun, emotions, and magical moments. Mahesh Babu, Anil Ravipudi, and Jr NTR praised the film to the sky, but does it live up to the hype? Let’s find out.
Soori (Fahadh Faasil) is a small-time trickster who survives by fooling people and making quick money. He encounters a young girl named Divya (Ssara Palekar) who believes Soori possesses magical powers. Soori sees Divya as an opportunity to make some easy money and decides to demand a ransom and starts tracking her family. Things take an unexpected turn when he learns that Divya’s parents are missing and she is a crazy spirit who is on the loose. What happened to her parents? And how does Soori get involved in Divya’s mission? The answers form the rest of the story.
Performances: Fahadh Faasil is undoubtedly the biggest attraction of the film. His natural screen presence and effortless acting make several scenes watchable even when the writing struggles. He has also put visible effort into delivering Telugu dialogues, which deserves appreciation. However, the role itself doesn’t fully utilize his talent and does not have the depth usually associated with Fahadh’s best performances.
Young actress Ssara Palekar performs sincerely and brings innocence to Divya’s role. She suits the character perfectly, but the writing doesn’t give her enough moments to create a strong emotional impact. Venkatesh Kakumanu is decent in a supporting role and provides a few light moments. Mahesh Manjrekar does what is required in his limited screen time. Saurabh Sachdeva’s character feels incomplete.
Technical Aspects: The fantasy elements are supported by decent visual effects that never look out of place. The cinematography complements the story well and maintains a grounded atmosphere despite the supernatural angle. Production values are neat throughout. However, Kaala Bhairava’s music turns out to be a disappointment. Neither the songs nor the background score create memorable moments. A stronger musical score could have significantly improved the emotional impact. The editing could have been tighter, especially in the second half where the narrative slows down considerably.
Analysis: The biggest issue with Don’t Trouble The Trouble is not the performances or technical quality; it’s the screenplay. The film begins with an interesting premise. A struggling conman teaming up with a spirit child sounds like a fresh idea on paper. The setup generates curiosity, and viewers expect the film to evolve into either an entertaining fantasy comedy or an emotional supernatural drama. Unfortunately, it becomes neither.
The humor rarely works. Several scenes designed to generate laughs fall flat, leaving the audience waiting for something more engaging. The emotional portions also fail to land because the film never develops a strong connection between the audience and Divya. The first half moves at a slow pace but still offers a few decent moments.
The narrative keeps moving in circles before finally arriving at the police station sequence, which turns out to be one of the few genuinely engaging portions in the film. The climax further weakens the experience. Instead of delivering a satisfying payoff, the film dives into increasingly illogical territory.
Several scenes feel forced, making the ending difficult to emotionally invest in. The biggest confusion lies in the film’s target audience. Children may find it too slow, while adults may struggle with the simplistic writing and lack of emotional depth.
Verdict: Overall, Don’t Trouble The Trouble is a different film, but the execution doesn’t match the ambition. Despite the massive hype generated before release, the Fahadh Faasil film has a weak emotional connection, sluggish pacing, and an underwhelming ending.
Bottom Line: Fails to live up to the hype
Rating: 2/5
