'Thuglaq' review: An edge-of-the-seat romantic thriller that will make for a gripping watch

The much-awaited movie, Thuglaq, starring Chandra Bose and Raghu Kunche in prominent roles, finally arrived on the big screens this Friday. Praneeth Pandaga helmed by Thuglaq, was bankrolled by Parama Geeta Nalleboina under the banner of Geetha Talkies. Does this new release of the week deserve your time and attention? Let’s find out.
Critics Rating: 2.75/5
Story:
Bose is a very popular and celebrated film director.He delivered several super-hit movies. And he is in search of a trend-setting story that is never told before for his next venture. In this quest he encounters Thuglaq. Bose finds a fascinating story from Thuglaq, who leaves the conversation with the director unfinished. Bose faces the challenge to complete the story due to an unexpected turn of events. What happens at the end of the narration is the most exciting chapter of the movie.
Review:
'Thuglaq' starts slow, taking it’s time to establish the characters, but picks up gradually and keeps you hooked throughout. The story and screenplay in 'Thuglaq' manage to keep things realistic and relatable. The twist and the emotional angle behind it make things passable. The narration is uneven in the first half, yet it doesn’t lose all hope. The second half does the trick as it provides a couple of engaging sequences.
The best part about 'Thuglaq' is the performances, which somehow manage to hold the film together despite all its shortcomings. With 'Thuglaq', lyricist Chandra Bose makes his debut on the silver screen in an engaging character. His performance in the movie is spellbinding. Raghu Kunche stands out as the storyteller Thuglaq. Rohan Siddarth as Karthik breezes through his part, and Chaitanya Priya as Haasini exhibits oodles of talent. Baring a few romantic moments between Rohan and Priya, the film is filled with only thrilling sequences.
Suman Shetty as Alibaba once again proves his great timing for comedy with some amusing scenes. Seshu plays Bablu, whose comic pieces are remarkable and will make everyone laugh their hearts out. Shanthi Kumar essays as Alibaba’s father, and the scenes shot on both are humorous and engaging. Even Koteswara Rao and Sanjay Raichura leave a mark in their brief appearances. Director Praneeth has finely used all the actors’ best skills to package the drama.
Technically, the production design is top notch as is Kishore Kumar Vinnakota’s camerawork while creatively, the dialogues make an impact on more than a few instances. Hari Nandamuri’s editing keeps things hurtling along at a brisk pace, and Anil Nanduri’s background score elevates the tension whenever required.
Overall, 'Thuglaq' is a romantic suspense thriller with some engaging moments. It is short and gets over quickly, making it a passable watch if one likes the genre.