The debut of actor Dev Gill, who has been best known for his villainous roles, into a leading hero role is dubbed ‘Aho Vikramaarka’. The film, directed by Trikoti Peta (an experienced assistant director of S.S. Rajamouli) was released in the Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, and Tamil languages. The film has won audiences with its unique story of missing workers and the unknown about where they are headed, though many have not been pleased with how the story has been told.
Aho Vikramaarka is a story of how 1200 people leave from Pune colony, and go missing for 25 years. No one knows where they are and their families have no closure. In this case, he meets Vikramarka (Dev Gill) a newly appointed officer at the Pune Police Station. The film is about Vikramarka going about the mystery of these missing people and multiple obstacles and challenges overcome along the way.
Performance
What really stands out in Dev Gill’s Vikramarka’s portrayal is his effort to move from villainous roles to heroes. His effort is commendable, but the execution has much to be desired. Speaking of which, his performance — particularly, in some of those scenes — is a shade overdramatic, and while his delivery isn’t consistent how to capture the appropriate amount of intensity for this role? His scenes may become unintentionally funny to the audience.
Tejaswini Pandit stands out as a little more grounded opposite, as a police officer and mother. She’s one of only a few cast members who manages to bring genuine emotional depth to the role, especially in scenes with her child. The primary narrative’s supporting actors (like Praveen Tarde as the antagonist, and Chitra Shukla as the heroine) contribute very little in the action sense and remain in the background of the story.
Direction and Screenplay
Trikoti Peta, although an assistant director, is making his directorial debut. The screenplay for the film arrived from Prasad Varma and Penmatsa, and has an interesting premise … but falters in terms of whether it can hold and maintain a coherent, gripping narration. Plot turns are rushed and the motivations of characters are often unclear. The pacing in the second half is inconsistent and doesn’t make the viewer feel invested. However, Peta’s attempt to take on a big story in a commercial format is apparent.
Music
Aho Vikramaarka’s dramatic tone is nicely complemented by Ravi Basrur’s music, but it often overpowers the on-screen action. It is not until the soundtrack creates its little sense of suspense and anticipation that it manages to hold you, and even then there are no memorable melodies. While Basrur’s score is effective in helping create intense sequences, in some instances, it feels a little too intense and that’s one source of unintentional humor in Dev Gill’s scenes.
Theme
The themes of the film are loss, mystery, and duty. Aho Vikramaarka is at its heart a questioning of the state of marginalized communities and the role of the system in uncovering the truth. The story is about the oppressed being given justice, which is central to the theme, the execution lacks the depth and nuance needed to carry this message. It seeks to stand the two things, a commercial narrative and a social one, but they don’t balance out as well, resulting in tonal inconsistencies.
Conclusion
Dev Gill’s Aho Vikramaarka is a strong attempt on his part to move into a hero role with a unique story premise and a strong supporting cast. But its lack of coherence, over-wrought delivery, and uneven pacing are a detractor. While the film won’t make a lasting impression on the big screen, it could do well streaming, where it could be embraced as a light, meme-worthy experience. If you’re a Dev Gill fan or enjoy dramatic thrillers with a twist, then it could be entertaining — unintentionally so and is available on iBomma.
