My Take on Dilruba: A Rollercoaster That Almost Derails
So, I caught Dilruba today—it dropped on March 14, 2025, and being a sucker for Telugu cinema, I couldn’t resist. Kiran Abbavaram’s been on my radar since KA, and with a fresh director, Viswa Karun, at the helm, I was hoping for something special. What I got was a wild ride—partly thrilling, partly exhausting, and honestly, a little all over the place. Let’s break it down.
The Setup: Quirky Hero, Tangled Heart
The movie kicks off with Siddhu, played by Kiran Abbavaram, who’s got this odd life rule: no “sorry,” no “thank you.” It’s tied to some heavy baggage—his dad’s death and a brutal breakup with Maggi (Kathryn Davison)—and it’s a cool hook. We meet him in Mangalore, where he’s starting fresh at an engineering college. Pretty soon, Anjali (Rukshar Dhillon) catches his eye, and there’s this flicker of hope that he might let his guard down. But then Maggi shows up again, a goofy villain called Joker (John Vijay) crashes the party, and suddenly we’re knee-deep in fights and melodrama. It’s like the script couldn’t decide if it wanted to be a love story or a beat-’em-up.
I’ll be real: the idea of a guy who’s too stubborn to apologize is gold. It could’ve been this deep dive into pride and redemption. Instead, it’s more of a quirky gimmick that gets old fast—especially when Siddhu starts preaching about it like he’s auditioning for a TED Talk.
What I Liked: The Eye Candy and Earworms
Let’s talk about the good stuff first. Dilruba looks fantastic. The cinematographer, Viswas Daniel, makes Mangalore pop—those wide shots of the coast and the college vibe really pull you in. The action scenes have some punch, too; Kiran’s got this scrappy energy that works when he’s throwing down. And the music? Sam CS delivers a couple of bangers that I’ll probably hum for days. The background score gets a bit loud sometimes, but it keeps the mood alive.
Kiran himself is a highlight. He’s got this mix of brooding and charm that carries the film, even when the plot stumbles. Satya’s in there cracking jokes as the sidekick, and while he’s funny at first, I was over it by the halfway mark. Still, those early scenes with Siddhu and Anjali had me smiling—they’ve got chemistry, even if it doesn’t get the spotlight it deserves.
What I Didn’t: Too Much, Too Messy
Here’s where I started checking my watch. The story’s a mess. The first half feels like it’s spinning its wheels—random college hijinks, forced comedy, and not much momentum. Then it flips into overdrive with Joker, this drug-lord clown who’s so over-the-top I couldn’t take him seriously. John Vijay’s chewing scenery like it’s his last meal, but it’s more silly than menacing. The whole action angle feels tacked on, like someone decided a romance wasn’t enough and threw in a bad guy for kicks.
The love triangle should’ve been the soul of Dilruba, but it’s half-baked. Anjali’s sweet, but she’s barely a character—just a smile and a plot point. Maggi’s got more going on, and I liked the twist of her trying to fix things for Siddhu, but it’s rushed. By the time we hit the climax—some big Rayalaseema-style showdown—I was too checked out to care. At two and a half hours, this thing drags. Trim the fat, and it might’ve hit harder.
Final Thoughts: Fun, Flawed, Forgettable
So, what’s the verdict? Dilruba isn’t awful—it’s got style, a few solid moments, and Kiran Abbavaram doing his thing. But it’s a letdown, too. It’s like ordering a biryani and getting a plate of decent rice with the spices all mixed up. I’d say it’s a 2.5 out of 5 for me. If you’re in the mood for some eye candy and don’t mind a scattered story, give it a shot. Otherwise, maybe wait for the next one.