Zebra Movie Review: A Thrilling Crime Drama With Satya Dev – Is it Worth the Watch?
Zebra, the latest release with a runtime of 2 hours and 44 minutes, has made its theatrical debut. After watching the film, it leaves a positive impression overall. Both halves of the movie are generally good, though a slightly reduced duration could have enhanced the experience further. This film marks a return to a good cinematic outing after a considerable time, despite its somewhat lengthy feel.
The Engaging Storyline of Zebra
The basic premise revolves around Satya Dev, who portrays a bank employee. To help the heroine, Pia Bhavani Shankar, whom he loves, overcome a problem, he must orchestrate a scam using his unique talents. The core of the story delves into the nature of this scam, the subsequent major problems it creates, and whether the hero manages to escape these complications. It also explores who engineered these events.
Pacing and Narrative Flow
The first half starts strong but experiences a slight dip in pace around an item song, only to pick up again before an impactful interval. The second half, however, begins on a slower note before maintaining an engaging pace until the very end. The film successfully delivers numerous thrilling and entertaining sequences throughout its narrative.
Stellar Performances and Character Handling
Director Eashvar Karthic deserves significant praise for his exceptional handling of the characters and for providing a perfect ending to each arc. The ensemble cast, including Satya Dev, comedian Satya, Satyaraj, Darling Dhananjay, Pia Bhavani Shankar, and Sunil (in the ‘Snake’ character), are utilized effectively. The heroine also holds considerable importance within the plot. Satya Dev once again proves his knack for choosing scripts that align well with his strengths. The scenes featuring Satya and Satya Dev, in particular, steal the show. The chemistry between Satya Dev and Darling Dhananjay, especially in their “partner in crime” type situations, is a highlight. Sunil’s character and look, as well as Satyaraj’s look, offer surprising elements.
Technical Aspects and Direction
The direction by Eashvar Karthic is commendable for bringing characters to life and providing them with perfect conclusions. The movie features rich production values and a distinct background score. Despite incorporating some familiar elements, the overall feel of the film is fresh. While the songs are present, they are generally short and don’t particularly stand out, though they are adequate. The movie effectively uses its title, “Zebra,” in a way that viewers will recall the film whenever the name is mentioned.
Highlights and Plus Points
- Director’s Craft: Eashvar Karthic’s character handling and the perfect narrative arcs are a major strength.
- Engaging Moments: The film offers a thrilling experience and keeps the audience engaged for most of its runtime.
- Casting & Chemistry: Strong performances from Satya Dev, Satya, Satyaraj, and Darling Dhananjay. The trio of Satya Dev, Satyaraj, and Satya is particularly impressive.
- Key Bank Sequences: Three specific bank scenes are sure-shot winners: the initial half-hour bank scam leading up to the title, the interval sequence, and the second-half theft scene. These scenes are compelling and hard to look away from.
- Background Score: The distinct background music contributes positively to the overall experience.
- Clever Twists: The film excels in taking seemingly impossible situations and making them thrillingly plausible.
Areas for Improvement and Minus Points
- Length: The film feels somewhat extended, and a shorter duration could have improved its impact.
- Pacing Issues: The first half experiences a slowdown around an item song, and the second half starts slowly.
- Bank-Related Specifics: Some bank-related details might confuse or disconnect certain audience members who are unfamiliar with such procedures.
- Mass Appeal: Beyond the comedic scenes, some parts of the movie might not strongly resonate with a mass audience.
- Darling Dhananjay’s Reaction: His character’s intense reaction to an issue initially seemed a bit excessive, although a justification is provided later, framing it as a prestige issue.
- Climax Build-up: The emotional depth of the climax could have been developed earlier in the film.
- Family Viewing: Certain elements, such as the first-half item song, a romantic song after the second-half interval, and Satya’s double-meaning comedy in the bank scenes, might be uncomfortable for family viewing.
- Logical Gaps: The absence of checks like fingerprints in crucial moments felt like a missed logical step.
- Extended Climax: The pre-climax scene, which shows three characters parallelly, initially felt like the climax. However, the subsequent revelation of multiple reasons, a twist, and a flashback makes the actual ending feel prolonged.
Family Viewing & Part 2 Potential
While much of the film is suitable for family viewing, viewers should be aware of the specific scenes mentioned above (item song, romantic song, double-meaning comedy) which might cause discomfort. There is no announcement for a Part 2, but the narrative leaves considerable scope for a sequel.
Final Verdict
Zebra is an impressive crime drama. If you can overlook its somewhat lengthy runtime, occasional pacing issues, and specific bank-related procedures that might be unfamiliar, it offers a thrilling and entertaining experience with good comedic elements. It’s a film with strong thrilling elements that is definitely worth watching.
My Rating: 3.2/5 (This is a personal opinion based on the review.)
