Shaneil Deo’s debut feature Dacoit: A Love Story tries to straddle Telugu cinema’s larger-than-life storytelling with a Hindi sensibility, but the result is uneven and overstretched. It is an intense action-romantic drama blending themes of love, betrayal and revenge. This thriller presents a gripping narrative set against a rugged, crime-driven backdrop.
At its core, the film is an old-school romance gone wrong. Haridas (Adivi Sesh) is unjustly imprisoned after being found near a dead body, while his lover Saraswati (Mrunal Thakur) becomes entangled in a web of betrayal and misplaced loyalty. What could have been a taut love-versus-law drama quickly spirals into a confusing, overlong narrative.
The Premise of Dacoit A Love Story
In simple words, Dacoit A Love Story follows a man who becomes a criminal after a heartbreaking betrayal by someone he once loved. After serving time in prison, he sets out on a dangerous path of revenge, getting involved in robberies and high-stakes crime. As fate brings the two former lovers face-to-face again, their past emotions collide with present conflicts, creating a powerful and emotional storyline.
Adivi Sesh delivers a strong, masculine presence, clearly positioned as the film’s heroic anchor. Mrunal Thakur complements him well, oscillating between innocence and ferocity, though her range feels underutilized compared to her standout roles in Sita Ramam and Hi Nanna. Anurag Kashyap is oddly cast as a Swami Ayyappa devotee, a role that may resonate with Telugu audiences but leaves Hindi viewers puzzled.
Atul Kulkarni and Prakash Raj are wasted in half-baked roles, reduced to narrative formalities rather than fleshed-out characters. Zarina Wahab appears briefly as the heroine’s mother, her presence more nostalgic than impactful.
As regards to the Direction and writing, Shaneil Deo’s inexperience shows. The screenplay by Abburi Ravi feels diluted, with Hindi dialogues suffering from literal translations. The story drags across 152 minutes, padded with unnecessary subplots and a climax that devolves into generic gunfire exchanges.
Cinematographer Dhanush Bhaskar captures the Andhra–Karnataka border with flair, but the film’s visual polish cannot mask its narrative fatigue. Songs are almost absent, save for token inserts, and the lone dance number feels gratuitous.
Dacoit A Love Story is less a romance and more a showcase of Adivi Sesh’s heroism. It promises intensity but delivers predictability. By the time the hero dies and the heroine is left alone with a child, the audience is left unsatisfied—wondering what more could have been.
This one is a sincere attempt by Anil Dev, but weighed down by old-school storytelling, uneven writing, and lack of freshness. Watch it only if you’re a die-hard fan of Adivi Sesh; otherwise, Dacoit A Love Story is a long, weary ride stretching 155 minutes.
– Review by Jyothi Venkatesh
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Cast of Dacoit: A Love Story:
Adivi Sesh as Haridas (Hari)
Mrunal Thakur as Saraswati alias (Juliet)
Anurag Kashyap as CI Rambabu (Swamy)
Prakash Raj as Solomon Chairman of Hospital
Sunil as Constable Prasad (Swamy’s assistant)
Atul Kulkarni as Ishaaq Bhai (Hari’s ex-cellmate)
Zayn Marie Khan as SI S. Janaki (Swamy’s daughter)
Kamakshi Bhaskarla as Malli (Hari’s landlord)
Vaibhav Tatwawadi as Bhaskar (Juliet’s husband)
Jhansi as Shanti (Juliet’s friend)
Zarina Wahab as Juliet’s mother
Vamsee Aloor as Ramesh (Juliet’s brother)
Credits of Dacoit: A Love Story:
Production companies – Annapurna Studios, S. S. Creations, Suniel Narang Production
Directed by Shaneil Deo
Screenplay by Shaneil Deo, Adivi Sesh, Karthikeya
Story by Shaneil Deo, Adivi Sesh
Produced by Supriya Yarlagadda, Suniel Narang
Cinematography – Danush Bhaskar
Edited by Kodati Pavan Kalyan
Music by Bheems Ceciroleo
