‘Dhandha’ review: A stylish crime thriller

Vertical series have always been seen as a short-term project for those busy with their day-to-day lives on the go. The 29-episode-drama Dhandha , which lasts only 64 minutes, breaks the vertical series mold. The series keeps the viewer interested at all times. It has a fast pace, and it manages to captivate the viewer, rather than losing them in the vastness of a web series.

Story

The story revolves around Aravind, a bright 22-year-old Engineering student who decides to earn his money by any means necessary. The series follows his journey in becoming a successful but dangerous cybercrime kingpin. Aravind gets sucked into the dangerous world of phishing gangs, extortion, and gang wars. All the while, he thinks he is in control, but the turns of fate will surprise him. This series depicts the cybercrime underworld realistically and, at the same time, keeps you engaged with the exciting turn of events and mind-games.

Performances

Dora Sai Teja delivers a stellar performance as Aravind, a self-confident and greedy young man who only wants to learn the art of money-making from the best. He is charismatic and charming in his role as a villain, and his facial expressions demonstrate emotions so intense that they can be described only as volcanic. Nithin Prasanna is surprisingly good in the film, while Prakash Thakur demonstrates some real gangster attitude. Finally, the rest of the supporting cast is equally impressive, with all the actors delivering a powerful performance.

Technicalities

Aditya Devulapally makes his directorial debut with the series Dhandha. The way he handled the vertical drama with full of twists and turns is appreciable. The first-time director once again proves himself to be one of the finest emerging talents in Tollywood. He keeps the ever-growing interest of the viewers hooked to their screens by ending every episode right.

Vijay Kumar and Aditya Devulapally ‘s writing is the show’s highlight. It is refreshingly original and intelligent. It has excellent characterizations and mind-games that keep the viewer interested. The writing also effectively employs the fourth wall. Aswin Lenin’s brilliant cinematography captures the chaos of Hyderabad’s cybercrime underworld beautifully. Rishi M’s high-energy background score keeps the tension rising, and the series maintains a surprisingly high budget for a vertical drama.

Analysis

It is hard to believe that Dhandha is a vertically shot series because of its spectacular style. The series manages to entertain the viewer at all times, keeps them interested, and surprises them with the turn of events. Dora Sai Teja is simply outstanding in the series, delivering a performance for the ages. And Aditya Devulapally has delivered a masterclass in filmmaking. The series has a powerful ending that leaves you wanting more and has high hopes for the upcoming season. A gripping crime thriller, Dhandha is a must-watch series that provides you with an entertaining binge-watch.

Rating: 3/5