Dongaata

Dongaata (transl. Crime Game) is a 2015 Telugu-language crime comedy directed by Vamsy Krishna, who wrote the screenplay with Mohan Bharadwaj. Sai Madhav Burra wrote the dialogue. The film stars Lakshmi Manchu, who also produced it under Manchu Entertainment, and Adivi Sesh, with Brahmanandam, Madhunandan and Prabhakar in key roles. It was released in May 2015 to positive reviews.

Story

Three small-time crooks, Venkat, Vijju and their boss Kattam Raju, kidnap the film actress Shruthi and hide her in an apartment owned by Vijju’s employer, Brahmi, who lives in the US. To their surprise, Brahmi turns up as a private detective hired to solve the case, and chaos follows when he discovers the actress is being held in his own home. The kidnap is not quite what it seems.

Cast

• Lakshmi Manchu as Shruthi, an actress
• Adivi Sesh as Venkat
• Madhunandan as Vijju
• Prabhakar as Kattam Raju
• Brahmanandam as Brahmi, a private detective

Production

Vamsy Krishna, a former assistant to Gautham Vasudev Menon, pitched the script to Lakshmi Manchu soon after joining her production company as an executive producer. The con drama was made on a tight budget and co-produced by Gandhi. One song, “Break Up Antu”, features several well-known Telugu actors in cameos dancing alongside Manchu.

Music

Sai Karthik, Raghu Kunche and Satya Mahaveer composed the music, released on Manchu Music. Tamannaah was chief guest at the audio launch in Hyderabad.

Reception

Sify called it a decent film with some good thrills despite occasional double meanings, and said Manchu was perfect as a spoilt, rich film star. The Hindu felt it started promisingly but became predictable. It praised the fact that the film rested on its heroine rather than celebrating a hero, calling it an out-and-out Lakshmi Manchu show.

Sources: Wikipedia and Wikidata.