Vishwak Sen is now out with his new film Mechanic Rocky, directed by debutante Ravi Teja Mullapudi. The commercial drama has hit the screens today and features Shraddha Srinath and Meenakshi Chaudhary in the lead roles. Read our review below.
Story: Rocky (Vishwak Sen) is a mechanic who runs a driving school with his father. The land on which his school is built is under threat of being seized by a goon, Akki Reddy (played by Sunil). Akki Reddy demands ₹50 lakhs, and Rocky begs for more time to arrange the money. Soon, Rocky discovers that his late father (Naresh) left behind an insurance policy worth ₹2 crores for him. However, when Rocky tries to claim it, the insurance agent Maya (Shraddha Srinath) reveals that the nominee is not Rocky but someone else. How Rocky solves this problem, arranges the ₹50 lakhs, and saves his driving school forms the crux of the story.
Performances: Vishwak Sen delivers a solid performance, radiating mass energy that suits his role perfectly. He excels in the fight sequences and songs. Shraddha Srinath shines as the star of the film, taking on a unique role and excelling in it. Meenakshi Chaudhary gets a meaty role for a change, looks adorable, and adds significant value to the film. Sunil is effective in his role but only features in a few scenes. Roadies Raghu performs well in his part, while Naresh brings humor with some well-executed comedy scenes.
Technical Aspects: Jakes Bejoy’s music is good, but the placement of the songs feels off. His background score is impressive, adding depth to the narrative. The cinematography is commendable, with the action sequences and chase scenes standing out. The production design is top-notch. However, the editing is a weak point, especially in the first half, where several scenes could have been trimmed.
Director Ravi Teja Mullapudi makes a promising debut, scripting a story centered on crimes prevalent in modern society. His writing shines in the second half, where the narrative becomes engaging and thrilling.
Analysis: While the trailer of Mechanic Rocky gives the impression of a typical commercial film, the actual movie subverts expectations in the second half. The twists and thrills are impressive, compensating for the lackluster first half. Unfortunately, the first half is overly lengthy and lacks energy, with dull family scenes, a poorly executed flashback, and an uninspired love track.
However, the interval bang brings the film back on track, and the second half delivers engaging twists and turns. Director Ravi Teja’s handling of the climax and his depiction of modern-day crimes is noteworthy. The usage of the heroines in pivotal roles is refreshing, and Vishwak Sen’s restrained performance enhances the film.
If the first half had been more concise and introduced the conflict earlier, the film could have been even more impactful. Nevertheless, the second half largely makes up for the shortcomings as it has been narrated in a very impressive manner by the director. Also, how the film comes to an end with proper logic satisfies you.
Verdict: Mechanic Rocky is a contemporary thriller with solid twists and thrills that are executed well. However, the first half is dull and takes too long to reach the core conflict. Once it does, the film delivers plenty of masala entertainment.
Bottom Line: Passable crime thriller
Rating: 2.5/5