Table of Contents
Zebra Movie Review
- Cast: Sathyaraj, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Sunil, Sathya, Jeniffer Piccinato, and others
- Director: Eashvar Karthic
- Producers: SN Reddy, Bala Sundaram, Dinesh Sundaram
- Banner: Old Town Pictures, Padmaja Films Pvt Ltd
- Music: Ravi Basrur
Overview
“Zebra,” directed by Eashvar Karthic, is a crime thriller that explores the world of banking fraud and its unexpected consequences. With Satyadev in the lead role, supported by Priya Bhavani Shankar and Dolly Dhananjaya, the film promises a mix of romance, tension, and action. Released alongside Vishwak Sen’s Mechanic Rocky, Zebra attempts to captivate the audience with its intriguing premise but falters due to uneven execution.
Zebra Movie Review
Zebra Movie Review
Storyline
Surya (Satyadev), an employee at the Bank of Trust, is deeply in love with Swathi (Priya Bhavani Shankar), who works at another bank. Trouble brews when Swathi commits a significant error at her workplace and turns to Surya for help. Using his knowledge of banking loopholes, Surya aids her in fixing the mistake, inadvertently landing them in hot water with a local goon, Aadi (Dolly Dhananjaya). The situation spirals out of control as Surya is forced to pay a hefty sum of ₹5 crore to resolve the issue. The rest of the story unravels Surya’s struggles to escape the mess and confront Aadi. Zebra Movie Review.
Performances
Satyadev carries the film on his shoulders with a commendable performance. He convincingly portrays a character juggling romance, tension, and action. Priya Bhavani Shankar excels in her role, portraying the emotional turmoil of a woman caught in a challenging situation. Zebra Movie Review.
Dolly Dhananjaya, however, underwhelms as the antagonist. His character lacks the menace needed to make a lasting impact, which diminishes the overall tension of the narrative. Sunil, stuck between comedy and negative roles, delivers a lackluster performance, while Sathyaraj offers a decent but forgettable act. Comedian Sathya manages to evoke a few laughs in the second half, lightening the otherwise serious tone.
Direction and Screenplay
Eashvar Karthic picks an engaging topic, banking fraud, and starts the film on a high note. The connection between the fraud, the goon, and Surya’s troubles is effectively introduced, and the interval twist adds excitement. However, the screenplay becomes convoluted with unnecessary subplots, diminishing the film’s pace and intensity. Zebra Movie Review.
The narrative, while brimming with potential, suffers from too many cinematic liberties. Logical inconsistencies in how banking fraud is portrayed make the plot seem implausible at times. The director’s attempt to weave multiple subplots into the story backfires, resulting in a bloated runtime and uneven storytelling.
Technical Aspects
Ravi Basrur, known for his impactful music, fails to deliver memorable songs in Zebra. However, his background score, particularly in the second half, enhances the film’s tense moments. The cinematography stands out, with impressive slow motion shots and a well crafted banking backdrop. Unfortunately, the editing leaves much to be desired. Trimming 15 minutes, especially from the filler scenes in the first half, could have significantly improved the pacing.
The production design effectively complements the film’s themes, immersing the audience in the banking world. However, the director’s overindulgence in introductory build ups, particularly for the villain, adds no real value to the narrative. Zebra Movie Review.
Positives:
- Satyadev compelling performance.
- A well conceived premise revolving around banking fraud.
- A few thrilling moments and a well-executed interval twist.
Negatives:
- Overlong runtime with unnecessary scenes.
- Lack of a gripping screenplay.
- Logical inconsistencies in the portrayal of banking fraud.
- Underwhelming villain characterization and slow pacing.
Verdict
Zebra starts strong, presenting a contemporary subject with an engaging premise. The film showcases the struggles of innocent employees trapped in a fraudulent web and the lengths they go to resolve their issues. While the story and concept are intriguing, the film falters in execution. A convoluted screenplay, underdeveloped characters, and an overlong runtime dilute the impact of the narrative.
Rating: 2.5/5
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