Mass Jathara Movie Review: Ravi Teja’s High-Octane Energy Drives This Commercial Blast!

Mass Jathara, produced jointly by Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, was released in theatres today. TFN reviews the latest box office release. Story: Lakshman Bheri (Ravi Teja) is a Railway Protection Force officer with the guts of a folk hero. When he moves to Araku on transfer, he is incensed by the rampant Ganja sale and smuggling in the town. The chief villain, Sivudu (Naveen Chandra), has been at it unchallenged and undefeated. It takes Lakshman’s unreal guts to smash his evil empire, one seizure and one attack at a time. Analysis: Ravi Teja‘s energy translates into impactful punches, gravity-defying stunts, and a commanding screen presence during fights. The dialogues culminate in punchlines, most of which involve the prime antagonist. The energy is in the way he owns the lines. The performance in songs is a separate spectacle that showcases his trademark flair. Sreeleela‘s acting centers on the authenticity and charm of the Srikakulam slang. She sounds effortless and natural, not forced. The performance by seniors (Rajendra Prasad and VK Naresh) command attention with minimal effort. The Nata Kireeti has an interesting role in the second half, allowing him to do more than just comedy. Naveen Chandra plays someone who doesn’t need to shout; his intensity comes from his eyes and savagery. To an extent, his character is a mix of Sukumar-style villain and Prakash Raj’s Obul Reddy from Okkadu. He provides a contrast to the hero’s raw energy with his measured performance. He is menacing and a little unpredictability would have elevated his character more. The film also features VTV Ganesh in a funny cameo before the climax. Hyper Aadi, for a change, plays someone on the wrong side of the law. Ajay Ghosh plays a comedy villain. Murali Sharma and Samuthirakani are cops belonging to opposite ends of the spectrum. Cinematographer Vidhu Ayyanna of Maaveeran fame delivers the kind of output a commercial potboiler fully deserves. Bheems Ceciroleo‘s songs do full justice to Ravi Teja’s image. The songs, especially Super Duper, are enjoyable. The action scenes come with a believable motivation (anger, instant justice, extrajudicial action). Writer-director Bhanu Bhogavarapu pens hero-elevation scenes right from the word go. Ravi Teja’s Lakshman Bheri is likened to a walking transformer who comes without a warning board. Rajendra Prasad, as his naughty grandpa, plays Hanuman Bheri, whose name as a special Ramayana angle. The second half sees the arrival of a new villain, who should have got a couple of powerful scenes to justify his existence. The climax fight takes place in the backdrop of a village ‘jathara’, where lawlessness faces destruction in the face of the Deity’s wrath. Another highlight has the hero storming into the villain’s heavily-guarded house, serving himself a sumptuous meal, and fighting the baddies with ease. Verdict: Ravi Teja’s commanding screen presence, trademark flair, and impactful action sequences (he is a “walking transformer”) make this a highly entertaining ride. Supported by a strong villain in Naveen Chandra and charming Sreeleela, it’s a solid, stylish entertainer. A treat for Mass Maharaja fans.