Keeda Cola has emerged as the center of attention, primarily due to the much-awaited return of director Tharun Bhasker after a notable hiatus. Following his last directorial venture in 2018 with "Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi," Tharun Bhasker did not direct any film, although he did contribute a segment to the web series "Pitta Kathalu." The teaser and trailer for "Keeda Cola" are brimming with youthful and entertaining elements, setting the stage for an engaging cinematic experience. Notably, the film's digital streaming rights have been secured by Aha OTT. With its release scheduled for 3rd November 2023, let's eagerly anticipate how "Keeda Cola" will be received by audiences.
Keeda Cola unfolds a captivating narrative that revolves around a group of individuals who find themselves in possession of a Keeda Cola bottle, and how their lives take unexpected turns thereafter. Vaasthu (Chaitanya Rao), who grapples with a stammering problem and faces a pressing need for financial help, devises a clever plan in collaboration with his grandfather Varadarajulu (Brahmanandam) and their lawyer friend Lancham (Rag Mayur).
Simultaneously, Naidu (Tharun Bhaskar) hatches a unique scheme to amass wealth but finds himself under the persistent pressure of his brother, Jeevan (Jeevan Kumar). Together, they receive support from Sikandar (Vishnu Oi). The intriguing part of the story lies in uncovering how Keeda Cola is intricately connected to their schemes and how the CEO of Keeda Cola (Ravindra Vijay) and Shots (Raghu Ram) react to these unfolding events.
Tharun Bhascker takes on the mantle of carrying the film on his shoulders, and he does so with aplomb. His charismatic screen presence elevates the scenes, and he delivers impactful expressions and emotions that resonate with the audience. His body language is universally appealing, and his dialogue delivery and accent suit his role perfectly. Tharun Bhascker's performance is a standout feature of the film.
Jeevan Kumar provides excellent support to Tharun Bhaskar, portraying his on-screen brother. His histrionics are a source of laughter and add a humorous dimension to the narrative.
Brahmanandam, with his trademark wit and a repertoire of one-liners, leaves an indelible mark on the film. He infuses his character with good expressions, making his presence felt on every occasion.
Chaitanya Rao delivers a commendable performance as a character grappling with a stammering problem and the associated feelings of inferiority. His portrayal is convincing and relatable.
Rag Mayur shines as a budding lawyer, displaying convincing expressions on screen. Rahul Vijay effectively portrays the role of the CEO of the Kola company.
The rest of the cast performs competently, effectively executing their respective roles in accordance with the film's requirements.
Tharun Bhascker's narrative in Keeda Cola delves into the lengths people will go to when they find themselves in dire financial straits, emphasizing the pursuit of money at any cost. Rather than focusing on a robust storyline, Tharun Bhaskar's primary aim seems to be to entertain viewers. In fact, the film doesn't possess a conventional storyline, but it attempts to captivate the audience with the novel concept of "Keeda" and "Cola." The sequences within the film may border on the silly and senseless, but the presence of Tharun Bhaskar and Brahmanandam manages to salvage the proceedings. Had these roles been played by anyone else, the film might have struggled to retain the audience's attention.
The screenplay, owing to the absence of a substantial story, emphasizes generating amusement. While it achieves this to a limited extent, there are moments of predictability and a drop in the humor quotient, especially in the comedy scenes. Tharun Bhaskar's screenplay and direction fall within an acceptable range, although certain segments of the screenplay appear slightly disjointed. The dialogues are adequate.
Aaron's cinematography maintains high standards, contributing to the film's visual appeal and giving it a polished look. The music by Upendra Varma is serviceable, but it makes a significant impact through the background score, which is of exceptionally high quality. Upendra Varma's editing is passable but could have been improved in some instances. The film boasts grand production values, adding to its overall quality.
In its entirety, Keeda Cola emerges as a lighthearted and somewhat absurd entertainer. The film finds its saving grace in Tharun Bhaskar's charismatic screen presence and a handful of notable scenes. However, the overall narrative, screenplay, and direction veer toward predictability, failing to introduce anything innovative or novel to the audience. Taking all these aspects into account, Cinejosh awards Keeda Cola a rating of 2.5.