Dhruva movie review: This Thani Oruvan remake is the perfect showcase for Ram Charan

First things first: a shrill whistle for Ram Charan, for his amazing physique in Dhruva. Now, why do we point this out at the very beginning of a review? It will become evident when you watch the movie. Ram Charan’s onscreen appearance in Dhruva is sharp, and edgy. So, yes, there may be the clichéd introductory song for him in Dhruva, just like there is for every other South hero, but you can’t help but notice the details in this one, all thanks to the star’s pumped-up presence. [caption id=“attachment_3140104” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Ram Charan in a still from ‘Dhruva’[/caption] In Ram Charan, you see glimpses of Chiranjeevi every once in a while, and the nostalgia is actually a good thing this time round. And Dhruva — the remake of Thani Oruvan — is definitely a movie that will make you take Ram Charan seriously. (Side note: Except for Magadheera, every time someone compared Charan to his father Chiranjeevi, it never really sat right with me. But for someone who hasn’t been a fan of his work so far, Charan actually changes that perception with this role and does a good job of it.) Dhruva is an action drama about a cop (Dhruva, played by Charan) who has a sixth sense that helps him in his line of work. His nemesis is Siddharth Abhimanyu (Arvind Swamy), a rich, spoilt scientist who has his father (played by Posani Krishna, the only humourous element in this racy thriller) under his control. When Dhruva and Abhimanyu’s paths cross, you know this battle of wills can only end in an epic showdown. Though the first half drags a little, you still want to watch how Dhruva works his way through various bad guys to get to the mastermind, Abhimanyu. The story may not be new — hero trying to save the nation by outthinking the villain — the way director Surender Reddy goes about setting the stage for the climax is interesting, and unusual. Of course, in that, Dhruva owes a lot to the original it is based on. Both Arvind Swamy and Charan’s roles make an impression on the audience. The lead actress — Rakul Preet Singh — however, has little to do (in the tradition of Telugu films) apart from being supportive of Charan’s Dhruva. Arvind Swamy is a welcome change to the Telugu audience, unlike other monotonous villain roles we have come across previously. [caption id=“attachment_3148566” align=“alignnone” width=“825”]  Arvind Swamy in a still from ‘Dhruva’.[/caption] Arvind’s performance is as good as it was in the original. The actor essays his part with ease and perfection, actually grabbing a lot of our attention towards a negative role as well. A special mention here of the background score: it lifts you up every now and then, and is perfect for the atmosphere created for the story. But then, that’s only to be expected from Hip Hop Tamizha. One aspect that I was struck by, was the very subtle hero worship in this Telugu movie — a direct contrast to other ‘star kid’ films that tend to pile it on. How does Dhruva fare, when compared to the original, Thani Oruvan? Most of the original has been retained and deviations, if any, are small. The one thing that is bothersome is the dubbing. The glitch is frankly, very evident. This Thani Oruvan remake works for Charan in many ways. Here’s hoping the actor takes up more such plots, where he has a chance to display his craft and not just his moves or style.