Rating: 4/10 (No Logica, Logichasya, Logicobhaya)

Cast: Allu Arjun, Pooja Hedge, Rao Ramesh, Vennela Kishore, Tanikella Bharani, Harish Uthaman, Shatru, Kalakeya Prabhakar, Pavitra Lokesh, Murali Sharma, Subbaraju, Venkata Giridhar, Chandramohan, Posani Murali Krishna

Story-Dialogues-Direction: Harish Shankar

Producer: Dil Raju

Banner: Sri Venkateswara Creations

Release Date: June 23rd 2017

Stylish Star Allu Arjun is back with his latest film, Duvvada Jagganadham. Aiming to continue his 50+ crore share box office streak, the film is directed by Harish Shankar and produced by Dil Raju under his SVC banner. Does the first big film after Baahubali 2 live upto the expectations? Let's find out

Plot: A Brahmin priest named Duvvada Jagannadham (Allu Arjun) is an actually an undercover person who kills bad people in society. When one of his loved ones passes away, DJ makes it his personal aim to take down who was responsible for it and he finds out it was Royyala Naidu (Rao Ramesh). The rest of the story is the cat and mouse game between DJ and Naidu.

Performances: Allu Arjun is fabulous as Duvvada Jagannadham. To say that he is a good actor is a waste of words. We know that he is. But he somehow carries a half baked film on his shoulders and powers it through despite some overaction. His attempt at the Brahmin character is pretty good but pales in comparison with Jr. NTR's Chari. As the undercover DJ, he is his usual self.

Poooja Hedge is simply mesmerizing  in this movie. She looks stunning in every frame she is in and absolutely ravishing in the songs. Her glamour is a huge asset and her amazing screen presence is arguably the highlight of the movie.

Rao Ramesh is excellent as Royyala Naidu and his dialogue delivery and styling are hilarious in this film.

Posani and Vennela Kishore are hilarious in their respective scenes. Subbaraju entertains as a guy who talks to his dead mother but has a ridiculous characterization. DJ's family consisting of Tanikella Bharani, Chandramohan, and others are adequate.

Direction: Harish Shankar made a lukewarm return to form with Subramanyam for Sale, which was a decent time pass for entertainment. He got an opportunity to redeem himself with DJ with another big budget star film but he's conceived an old age story and executed it halfheartedly. While the initial stages of the film are ok, it's in the middle of the first half where he succeeds in providing good entertainment with the Vennela Kishore marriage episode and the romantic track between Pooja and DJ. The first half passes muster but the 2nd half runs on action scenes and bland treatment. The much hyped different climax is over-action to the hilt and is highly unrealistic. Overall, Harish Shankar's attempt at a roaring comeback is a disappointment to say the least as he's delivered an average product in the end.

Technicalities: Music and BGM by Devi Sri Prasad is very good. The background score in particular stands out. Cinematography by Ayananka Bose is absolutely phenomenal. The ace cameraman has given some stunning visuals of Dubai. Dialogues by Harish Shankar are arguably the best part of the film. He once again succeeds with hilarious and entertaining dialogues which makes the film entertaining to an extent. Art by Ravinder is excellent and the sets look lavish. Editing by Chota K Prasad is questionable. The film is a tad too long for it;s own good. Fights by Ram-Lakshman are over the top as usual and have no logic. Production Values by Dil Raju are outstanding as usual and the film looks grand and rich in every frame.

Positives:

+ Allu Arjun

+ Pooja Hegde

+ Dialogues and Production Values

Negatives:

- Story

- Direction 

- Editing

- Screenplay 

Analysis and Verdict: After Baahubali 2, the Telugu audience has been waiting for a big ticket film that will quench their thirst for another pulsating film like Baahubali 2. And DJ was expected to be that film. Sadly, the film is disappointing on the whole. Except Allu Arjun's performance, some dialogues, and Pooja Hedge, DJ is a bland revenge action drama that sans logic.

Now every commercial action film sans logic, but DJ has way too much nonsense for the average film goer to say that it's a well made film. The film starts off with introducing the young DJ and then establishing that he wants to do good for society so he joins hands with Murali Sharma's character to eliminate bad guys.

Allu Arjun's introduction scene is the first point of logic that I questioned. His introduction is on the roof of a Hindu temple and he's pouring milk on it. The question is how did he get up there and why is he up there in the first place? The next scene cuts to him being on the ground level chanting mantras with kid priests. How the hell did he get down from the roof? No logic point #1.

We are then introduced to Pooja Hedge's character and she literally sets the screen on fire every time she appears. The track between the lead pair is entertaining and the movie is good till then.

We are then introduced to Posani as her father and he wants her to marry Subbaraju and Subbaraju's character is no logic point #2. Why would a guy talk to his dead mother like she can hear him? I guess Harish Shankar thought it would be funny but to be honest, it's retarded. The interval bang is expected and is a little comical with Rao Ramesh's I'm waiting dialogue.

The 2nd half is bland with action scenes and two songs poorly edited in to fill the runtime and the so called "different" and much hyped comical climax is too much and that is no logic point #3. A serious climax with the fight would have been better.

Allu Arjun's character also overuses the two types of dialogues in the trailer with are "sabhya samajaniki" and a word that can end with o, asya, and obhaya. Each are used about 10-15 times throughout the movie and lose the repeat value similar to Mahesh Babu's pittakathalu about his movies in Aagadu.

Overall, Duvvada Jagannadham is an average made film from the combination of Allu Arjun, Harish Shankar and Dil Raju that sans logic. Besides a bearable first half and Allu Arjun's performance, DJ has nothing to offer with a parama routine story and scenes that lack any dum.

At the end you'll be saying saamy meeko dannama, dannamasya, dannamobhaya.