
Cast: Satyadev, Daali Dhananjaya, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Amrutha Iyengar, Jennifer, Sunil, Satya, Sathyaraj, Suresh Chandra Menon, and othersDirector: Eashvar KarthicMusic: Ravi BasrurCinematography: Sathya PonmarEditing: Anil KrishProducers: S.N. Reddy, Bala Sundaram, Dinesh SundaramRelease Date: November 22, 2024



Satyadev and Daali Dhananjaya star in the film Zebra, directed by Eashvar Karthic of Penguin fame. Priya Bhavani Shankar and Amrutha Iyengar play the female leads. The movie is a white-collar crime drama that raised significant expectations, especially with Megastar Chiranjeevi himself participating in its promotions. Released on November 22, did Zebra live up to the hype? Did it finally deliver a much-needed hit for Satyadev? Let’s find out in this review.







The Plot



Surya (Satyadev), a middle-class man, works as a Relationship Manager at the Bank of Trust. He has a crush on his colleague Swathi (Priya Bhavani Shankar). One day, Swathi accidentally transfers ₹4 lakh to a wrong account. When she tries to recover the amount, the recipient claims to have spent it. To help Swathi, Surya steps in, but in the process, he unwittingly gets entangled in a ₹5 crore bank fraud. This chain of events leads him into a confrontation with Aadi&nbsp; (Dhananjaya), one of the state’s most dangerous individuals. How does Surya face Aadi ? What role does Aadi&nbsp; play in Surya’s life? How does the ₹5 crore fraud escalate, and does Surya manage to overcome these challenges? That forms the crux of the story.



The Performances



Satyadev shines once again in his role as Surya, proving his mettle as an actor. He seamlessly portrays a character that combines comedy, action, romance, and emotion. His performance elevates the film, but Dhananjaya also leaves a strong impression. As Aadi , Dhananjaya embodies power and menace, dominating the screen in several sequences. In some scenes, he even overshadows Satyadev. Priya Bhavani Shankar plays a significant role and performs convincingly, while Jennifer adds glamour to the narrative. Satya’s comedy timing is another highlight, though the supporting characters don’t leave a lasting impact as the story primarily focuses on the Surya vs. Aadi&nbsp; dynamic.







Direction



Director Eashvar Karthic skillfully handles the banking-related content, delivering a gripping narrative with a strong screenplay. His past experience as a bank employee adds authenticity to the storytelling. The film effectively exposes the fraudulent practices within the banking system, though certain aspects lack conviction. For instance, the protagonist earning ₹5 crores within four days feels implausible, and resolving a ₹100 crore problem with just an email stretches logic. However, for audiences willing to overlook such inconsistencies, Zebra offers an engaging experience. The intense battle between Satyadev and Dhananjaya, along with Satya’s comedy and impactful dialogues, serve as major highlights.



Technical Aspects



From a technical standpoint, Zebra impresses. Ravi Basrur’s background score is a significant asset, especially elevating the action sequences. However, the songs fail to leave a lasting impression. Sathya Ponmar’s cinematography captures the narrative’s essence beautifully, while the editing is adequate. The art department excels in recreating the bank setting, and the production values are top-notch.







Strengths



Engaging story and screenplayPerformances by Satyadev and DhananjayaRavi Basrur’s background music



Weaknesses



Illogical sequencesSongs that feel forced into the narrative



Telugu.yousay.tv Rating: 2.5/5


Zebra Movie Review: Satyadev and Dhananjaya Face Off in a Gripping Banking Thriller!


Actor Satyadev’s latest movie, Zebra, has been making waves in the film industry. Featuring Kannada actor Dhananjay in a key role, the movie, directed by Eashvar Karthik, also stars Priya Bhavani Shankar and Jennifer Piccinato. The film received positive reviews and started gaining traction after its first day, thanks to word-of-mouth publicity. Recently, the team organized a success meet. Amid this, Satyadev penned an open letter to the audience, sharing his thoughts and reflecting on the struggles of his earlier movies.



What Did Satyadev Say?



Satyadev expressed his happiness over the audience's response to Zebra in a heartfelt note shared on social media. He wrote: "This success is yours. You’ve said the movie is good, and I couldn’t ask for more. I’ve been waiting for five years for such a hit. I’ve longed to make a movie that you love and to hear you say, 'You’ve delivered a hit.' When I succeed, you celebrate, and that fills my heart with joy. You missed watching Bluff Master in theaters but later showered it with love on OTT and YouTube. I hope the same doesn’t happen with Zebra. Please watch this film in theaters—it’s a movie you’ll definitely enjoy."




https://twitter.com/ActorSatyaDev/status/1861276550337073501




Struggles With Every Film



Satyadev is one of those talented actors who has struggled to gain the recognition he deserves. Despite delivering strong performances, he has often faced challenges in reaching audiences. He hoped that Zebra would turn his fortunes around, especially with the positive reviews. However, the film’s box office numbers have not matched expectations, leaving him concerned. This situation isn’t new for Satyadev. His career began with similar hurdles. His debut film, Uma Maheshwara Ugra Roopasya, was released directly on OTT due to the pandemic. His next, Thimmarusu, faced the impact of the second COVID wave, with theaters operating at 50% capacity. Bluff Master didn’t find success in theaters but was appreciated later on OTT platforms. Even Krishnamma was delayed for two years before its theatrical release earlier this year, only to hit OTT within a week. Despite his role as an antagonist in Godfather alongside Chiranjeevi, Satyadev didn’t gain the expected opportunities. With Zebra, he hopes to break this cycle and has earnestly appealed to audiences to support the film in theaters.







Is Zebra Worth Watching?



Director Eashvar Karthik weaves a story about financial crimes in the banking sector, intertwined with the world of gangsters. Satyadev shines as Surya, a bank relationship manager, delivering a compelling performance. The story revolves around Surya’s struggles as he becomes entangled in a 5-crore bank fraud, with a gangster villain hunting him down. While the storyline holds intrigue, certain elements, like the villain’s obsession with a relatively small amount (for a crime lord), feel unrealistic. The lack of gripping moments in some parts is a downside. However, the film’s freshness and appeal to fans of thrilling dramas make it a worthwhile watch.







What’s the Story?



Surya (Satyadev), a middle-class bank relationship manager, works at the Bank of Trust. He secretly admires his coworker Swathi (Priya Bhavani Shankar). One day, Swathi mistakenly transfers ₹4 lakhs to a fraudulent account. When the recipient refuses to return the money, Surya steps in to help her. This incident escalates unexpectedly, pulling Surya into a larger scam involving ₹5 crores. He eventually crosses paths with Adi (Dhananjay), a notorious and dangerous gangster. How does Surya deal with Adi? How did Adi enter Surya’s life? What consequences does the ₹5-crore fraud bring? Does Surya overcome these challenges? These questions drive the gripping narrative of Zebra.






<strong>Satyadev: 'Don’t Let Zebra Be Like That,' Satyadev Appeals to Telugu Audiences</strong>


Directed by Koratala Siva and starring Jr. NTR, 'Devara: Part 1' has created a storm at the box office, becoming the biggest hit of Tarak's career. The sea fight sequence in particular has thrilled audiences, and Koratala Siva's creativity has been widely praised. However, there's a growing controversy online suggesting that these were not entirely Siva's original ideas, but rather direct copies from a Korean film. Here's the video that's trending as evidence.



What Actually Happened?



The introduction and interval scenes in 'Devara' are so dynamic that they're bound to give anyone goosebumps. No one expected a Telugu director to execute such an elaborate action sequence at sea. The film features a scene where the hero, along with his gang, goes to a ship to steal weapons, dumping the gun-filled crates into the sea. Members of the hero's gang, already stationed in small boats, then retrieve these crates to smuggle them past the naval officers. Yet, netizens are surprised to find a strikingly similar scene in a Korean movie, accusing director Koratala Siva of plagiarism. Audiences are mocking the director for fooling them, urging everyone to check out the Korean movie scene.




https://twitter.com/chiruthajsp/status/1849093752683716609




That Scene Too!



It's known that Tarak plays a dual role in 'Devara.' Initially, as part of the villain's gang, 'Devara' participates in smuggling for some compelling reasons but later turns good. Meanwhile, he also instills fear among his peers against smuggling. The director showcases a sequence with chairs filled with knives along the coast. However, this scene has also been accused of being copied, with claims that it closely resembles a scene from the Hollywood film 'Vikings.'




https://twitter.com/BackupBrainy/status/1833835236465029376




Is the Story of Devara Also Copied?



There were extensive promotions before the release of 'Devara' claiming that its story was adapted from a copyrighted novel. Tamil director Shankar recently accused that he saw key scenes from his copyrighted novel being used in a film, stressing that creators should respect rights and avoid copying without permission, warning of legal actions. However, Shankar did not clarify which film he referred to. But, the buzz on social media suggests that the story of 'Devara' closely mirrors the Tamil novel 'Veera Yug Nayagan,' for which Shankar holds the rights.







Similar Accusations in the Past



This is not the first time Koratala Siva has faced plagiarism accusations. He was also heavily criticized during the release of 'Srimanthudu' with Mahesh Babu. Writer Sharath Chandra even took the matter to court, claiming his story was copied. The issue had created a sensation across the Telugu states back then. In 2012, Sharath had published his story 'Chachentha Prema' in Swati Monthly, and while he was planning to adapt it into a film, he accused Koratala Siva of making 'Srimanthudu' based on his story.






SHOCKING: 'Devara' Director Koratala Siva Under Fire - Blockbuster Sea Sequence Allegedly Copied from Korean Film; Shankar Hints at Legal Action Over Story Rights!

Swathi Muthyam

స్వాతి ముత్యం

JV Somayajulu, who immortalized himself in the hearts of Telugu audiences as Shankarabharanam Shankar Sastry, became a star actor with just that one film. He showed a unique influence in roles that highlighted Telugu culture and traditions. Let's take a look at the top films of JV Somayajulu that have stayed in the hearts of the audience.


శంకరాభరణం శంకరశాస్త్రిగా తెలుగు ప్రేక్షకుల హృదయాల్లో నిలిచిపోయిన జెవి సోమయాజులు ఆ ఒక్క సినిమాతోనే స్టార్ నటుడిగా ఎదిగారు. తెలుగు సంస్కృతి, సాంప్రదాయాలు ఉట్టిపడే పాత్రల్లో ఆయన విశేష ప్రభావం చూపారు. సోమయాజులు నటించిన చిత్రాల్లో ప్రేక్షకుల హృదయాల్లో నిలిచిన టాప్ చిత్రాలను ఓసారి చూద్దాం.


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