A Mind-Blowing Crime Thriller – ‘Dhandha’

TeluguTimes.net Rating: 2.75/5

Production House: Chai Shots

Cast: Dora Sai Teja, Akshara Nalla, Nithin Prasanna, Kiran Kumar Kamtam, Soori K. Chaplin, Vikram Devaki, and others.
Music: Rishi M, Cinematography: Ashwin Lenin
Editing: Jagadish Goud, Story: Vijay Kumar
Production Design: Sanjana Kanchala
Co-Writer & Director: Aditya Devulapalli
Total Runtime: 1 Hour 4 Minutes
Format: Vertical Series with 29 Episodes

Vertical series have been gaining immense popularity across English, Chinese, Korean, Hindi, and several other languages for quite some time. Now, for the first time in Telugu, Chai Shots has introduced a crime thriller in the vertical format titled “Dhandha.” Spread across 29 bite-sized episodes with a total runtime of just 64 minutes, the series stars popular YouTube sensation Dora Sai Teja alongside Akshara Nalla in the lead roles. Directed by Aditya Devulapalli, let’s find out whether this innovative series delivers in our review.

Story
Aravind (Dora Sai Teja) is a brilliant 22-year-old B.Tech student driven by an insatiable hunger for wealth and power. He soon realizes that his intelligence holds far greater value in Hyderabad’s dark cybercrime underworld than inside a classroom. What begins with petty online scams gradually escalates into phishing operations, fraudulent call centers, blackmail rackets, and dangerous gangster politics. How Aravind rises to dominate an extensive digital crime network forms the crux of Dhandha.

Performances
This series uncovers the actor hidden behind YouTube star Dora Sai Teja. His performance is far from ordinary. He completely transforms into a raw, ruthless anti-hero who is willing to cross every moral boundary in pursuit of success. The hunger, ambition, and intensity reminiscent of Mahesh Babu’s Surya from Businessman are clearly visible in Sai Teja’s eyes. His reinvention as an actor is undoubtedly the show’s biggest strength. His portrayal of a calculated, devilish anti-hero reflects remarkable maturity and suggests that Telugu cinema has found a promising young leading man. With chilling composure, controlled cruelty, and relentless ambition, he delivers an outstanding performance.

Akshara Nalla impresses equally with her effortless screen presence. Her natural looks are beautifully complemented by an equally natural performance. Regardless of the actors sharing the screen with her, she manages to leave a lasting impression through her performance. The supporting cast also performs convincingly within the scope of their respective roles.

Technical Aspects
Director Aditya Devulapalli’s work never feels like the effort of a first-time filmmaker. He maintains a tight narrative without unnecessary detours, ending every episode on a compelling note—a testament to his writing skills. Dialogues such as, “When a child becomes the devil, a family is destroyed. But when the devil becomes a child, an entire city is destroyed,” create a theatrical impact.

His command over the craft is evident in the way every episode concludes, consistently building anticipation for the next. Strong visuals, impressive performances, and a memorable soundtrack come together seamlessly. The director displays remarkable clarity of vision. Transitioning from journalism to filmmaking, Aditya establishes a distinct voice of his own with his debut, much like filmmakers Tarun Bhaskar and Sandeep Reddy Vanga. The sharp, punchy dialogues evoke the signature style of Puri Jagannadh, while the performances retain an appealing rawness.

Rishi M’s music, enriched with Mexican and Turkish musical influences, stands among the finest Telugu soundtracks in recent times. His background score, combined with Ashwin Lenin’s striking cinematography, breathes life into the series. The production values are impressive throughout.

Verdict
You may begin watching with the intention of finishing just one episode, but before you realize it, you’ve completed the entire 64-minute series. Released under the Chai Shots banner, Dhandha sets a new benchmark for Telugu micro-content.

Director Aditya Devulapalli succeeds brilliantly in delivering a gripping crime drama through two-and-a-half-minute episodes. Sustaining a complete crime narrative within such short episodes is an enormous challenge, yet the Dhandha team executes it with remarkable confidence and creativity.

The days of saying there’s no time to watch quality content are over. Dhandha proves that a goosebump-inducing crime drama can be told effectively in just 64 minutes. Its razor-sharp pacing keeps viewers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.

With this ambitious attempt, Chai Shots pushes Telugu OTT content to the next level. The compact storytelling and engaging narrative ensure that you’ll remain hooked to the screen throughout.