Satyadev and Dolly Dhananjay play the lead roles in the white-collar crime drama Zebra, directed by Eashvar Karthic of Penguin fame. Chiranjeevi attended the pre-release event as the chief guest and showered praises on Satyadev, giving the film significant attention and reach. Additionally, Satyadev actively promoted the film in various ways. So, what was the outcome of the film? Did Satyadev score a hit as a hero? Let’s find out.
Story: Surya (Satyadev), a relationship manager at a bank called Trust, has a caring and intelligent mother, a devoted girlfriend Swathi (Priya Bhavani Shankar), who loves him unconditionally, and a loyal, inescapable friend, Bob (Satya). However, Swathi gets entangled in a bank fraud involving ₹5 crores while trying to resolve a smaller fraud issue of ₹4 lakhs. As the story unfolds, Surya is forced to confront the dangerous Aadi (Dhananjay) in a desperate attempt to resolve the situation. How did Surya get involved in the ₹5 crore fraud? Why did Aadi enter Surya’s life? And how does Surya navigate these challenges? These questions form the crux of Zebra.
Performances: When Satyadev steps onto the screen ready for his performance, Dali Dhananjay appears like an unexpected out-of-syllabus question, stealing the spotlight. While Dali is a talented actor, he isn’t yet widely recognized by Telugu audiences. In Pushpa, he is portrayed as a side villain, but in this film, he is given a role that feels even more powerful than the hero’s at times. There are moments where Dali’s character feels like the true hero of the story. His elevation scenes and dialogues are on another level, and this film will undoubtedly strengthen Dali’s market in Telugu cinema. Satyadev delivers a seamless performance, showing no signs of faltering. Surya’s character demands a wide range of sharp emotions, and Satyadev embodies the role with ease, proving once again his versatility. Sathya, with his impeccable comedy timing, is another highlight and adds to the film’s appeal. Sathyaraj entertains with his humor, while Sunil impresses in a slightly different role. Priya Bhavani Shankar and Jennifer bring a touch of glamour.
Technical Aspects: Ravi Basrur’s music is a standout feature of the film, with his background score playing a crucial role in elevating key scenes. Satya Ponmar’s cinematography is decent, capturing the visuals effectively. The editing is one of the film’s main highlights. Despite juggling multiple storylines, the editor skillfully weaves them together seamlessly. Special mention should go to the art department for perfectly recreating the bank setting, it feels authentic and flawless throughout the film. The production values are top-notch.
Director Easwar Karthik seems to have taken the feedback from his debut film Penguin seriously, as he demonstrates a lot of care in Zebra. The screenplay is skillfully handled, particularly in the way the scenes are composed. The attention to detail is commendable, especially in the initial meeting scene between Dali and Satyadev, which delivers a satisfying mass appeal. Easwar’s experience as a former bank employee adds authenticity to the bank-related content in the film.
That said, the film falters in some key areas. Banking frauds are superficially explained when they require clear exposition. The attempt to cover numerous elements with emotional depth while sacrificing clarity weakens the narrative. Making an ordinary bank employee earn ₹5 crores in four days and Aadi’s overpowering characterization feel unconvincing. Addressing these issues could have elevated the film to a major hit, but their absence leaves the film feeling average.
Analysis: In cybercrime stories like this, detailing, emotional depth, and clarity of information are essential. If any of these elements are missing, the film lacks a sense of completeness—and that’s precisely what happened with Zebra. Key questions remain unanswered, such as how the hero resolves his troubles or escapes a ₹100 crore issue with just one email. These logical gaps detract from the story’s impact.
Additionally, the stock market subplot is not handled compellingly. As a result, the story unfolds without creating an emotional connection. The audience struggles to engage with the plot, empathize with the hero’s problems, or root for his victory. Addressing these issues would have made the film more impactful.
Verdict: Overall, Zebra is a decent thriller that showcases bank fraud. There are so many logical inconsistencies but Zebra still entertains you for the most part. Dolly Dhananjay’s acting and characterization, Satya’s comedy, and Satyadev’s performance ensure that the film is at least a one-time watch.
Bottom Line: A decent thriller
Rating: 2.5/5
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