Director Ravi Teja Mullapudi's Mechanic Rocky is a paradox: a quirky ride that demands your patience and tests your endurance. The film goes low-key until the penultimate moment and when you lose all hope, it reveals a saving grace that sends you out of the cinema hall with a smile. During the promotions, the makers said that the film comes with a twist that changes its genre during the course of its runtime. It’s true, the film offers a lot more than you expect. It's much more than the mass entertainer it pretends to be. At first glance, you expect a conventional, high-octane action film, but as the narrative unfolds, it takes an unexpected turn that redefines the entire experience, although it entails navigating a loop of borderline cringeworthy comedy and aimless romance.
Director: Ravi Teja Mullapudi
Cast: Vishwak Sen, Shraddha Srinath, Meenaakshi Chaudhary, Vishwadev Rachakonda, Naresh, Sunil, Raghuram
Rakesh aka Rocky (Vishwak Sen) is an engineering dropout who works in his father’s garage and passes through life one song after another. One day, the garage falls under threat of extortion from a local gangster, Ranki Reddy (Sunil), triggering a whole game of mishaps for Rocky, putting him at the receiving end of a crime. How he hassles through the threat and saves himself and the garage forms the plot.
Mechanic Rocky is not the kind of film that can be boxed into one genre. It begins as a typical entertainer but as it progresses, the narrative nosedives. There’s too much happening and most things go wrong for our protagonist. A losing protagonist doesn’t always work for the general audiences. For much of the runtime, you're watching a series of mishaps unfold, wondering whether the film even has a direction. Thankfully, it makes you appreciate the journey you’ve been on.
The major problem is, until the cards are unveiled, the film puts you through a lot of misery in the name of comedy and romance. The first half bombards you with repetitive gags and awkward romantic exchanges between Rocky and Priya (Meenaakshi Chaudhary). The humor feels forced, almost making you question the film’s very premise. Yet, there’s a method to this madness. Much of the silliness is tied to the eventual reveal, and in hindsight, the chaotic narrative pieces fit together like a well-planned jigsaw puzzle. For example, the family farcical introduction scene—you wouldn't expect a scene like that to come around and deliver narrative satisfaction, but it does. Writers Ravi Teja Mullapudi and Rao P Shetty definitely deserve credits for writing both farce and thrill together. That’s not an easy feat.
When it comes to the performances, Shraddha Srinath brings depth to an otherwise underwritten role, leaving you wishing for more backstory. Meenaakshi Chaudhary’s Priya feels crucial but underutilised, adding little beyond her scenes with Rocky. Jakes Bejoy’s music is hit-or-miss but does add some funky flair that complements the film’s offbeat vibe. But the most exciting technical work in the film are the cinematography by Manojh Reddy and editing by Anwar Ali. The editing, with its quirky match cuts and screen splits, keeps you engaged even when the plot falters.
Vishwak Sen may not be a strong performer, but he knows what he is doing. In the final scene, he cheekily asks the villain, “Just a guy from Malakpet executing a plan like this, you never expected right?” It’s a nod not just to the antagonist but to the audience, who might have underestimated him too. We don’t expect him to deliver high because of his loud statements but most times, he comes around with films with a surprising element. Vishwak Sen convinces you that he is just a loudspeaking youngster but there’s always a stronger knack for craft and writing. His choices in cinema might end up forming one of the most diverse filmographies for a Telugu actor. It’s delightful to witness a young actor who knows his guns and how to use them well.
What’s fascinating about Mechanic Rocky is its self-awareness. The film knows it’s treading risky ground, blending genres and juggling tones. No wonder, this film’s marketing strategy was compared to Vijay Sethupathi’s Maharaja. But does it pay off? Mostly, yes. The film sets your expectations so low with its initial silliness that when the twist lands, it feels like a masterstroke. However, this reliance on twists is a double-edged sword. Without them, the film offers little beyond a few clever moments and technical finesse. It's a trick that works best when you go in expecting very little.
Mechanic Rocky is an exercise in patience, but if you stick with it, the reward is a surprisingly clever film that defies expectations. It’s a risky venture that almost overstays its welcome but redeems itself in the final act. Not every twist justifies the journey, but when it does, you leave the theatre feeling grateful for the ride.