Mass Jathara Review: Ravi Teja’s Routine Mass Drama

Tollywood is known for experimenting with different storylines over time. Recently, films with cannabis-based plots have been dominating the Telugu film industry. These stories often revolve around farmers unknowingly cultivating cannabis, corrupt villains exploiting them, and heroes stepping in to save the day. Sometimes, the protagonist even enters the drug trade for a so-called “social cause,” only to later realize the societal damage it causes and turn over a new leaf. Alternatively, the focus shifts to how youth are getting addicted to drugs, committing crimes, and losing their lives — and the hero arrives to reform society and bring justice.

‘Mass Jathara’ falls exactly in this genre. Marking Ravi Teja’s 75th film, it’s intended to be a landmark project in his career. However, one would expect such a milestone movie to bring freshness in concept and presentation. Unfortunately, it follows a predictable commercial formula — a ruthless villain, exaggerated heroism, bits of comedy, multiple songs, and a grand fight sequence in the climax. Writer-turned-director Bhanu Bhogavarapu takes the familiar mass route with this story.

Story Overview

Laxman Bheri (Ravi Teja) dreams of becoming a police officer. His grandfather (Rajendra Prasad) discourages him, fearing the dangers of the job, especially after losing his own son and daughter-in-law. He convinces Laxman to work in the railway police instead, where risks are supposedly lower.

However, Laxman’s fearless attitude and strong sense of duty bring him into the spotlight. His superior officer (Samuthirakani) transfers him to Uttara Andhra’s forest region, a zone controlled by cannabis smugglers led by Shiva (Naveen Chandra). The film follows how Laxman takes on Shiva’s network and brings them to justice.

During the mission, he meets Tulasi (Sreeleela) in a cannabis field, and their romantic track unfolds with several emotional twists. The film attempts to balance mass action, social message, and love story but loses grip as the plot progresses.

Performances and Direction

Ravi Teja delivers his usual high-energy performance, but the script doesn’t offer him anything new. Sreeleela plays her part well but has limited screen time. Rajendra Prasad’s role feels underutilized, and comic actors like Murali Sharma and Hyper Aadi are reduced to fillers.

Director Bhanu Bhogavarapu’s storytelling lacks freshness. The screenplay follows a routine pattern without emotional depth or novelty. Even the dialects and regional accents among characters shift inconsistently. The second half drags with predictable scenes and an unconvincing romantic subplot.

Technical Aspects

Cinematographer Vidhu Ayyanna deserves credit for visually enhancing Ravi Teja’s screen presence. Bheems Ceciroleo’s music tries to recreate Thaman-style beats but feels repetitive. The so-called “Super Duper Hit Song” before the climax — humorously declaring it has “no rhythm, no meaning, and no sense” — ironically describes the movie itself.

Final Verdict

Despite being a milestone film for Ravi Teja, Mass Jathara ends up as another formulaic action drama with little innovation. The lack of strong characterization and repetitive storytelling make it a missed opportunity. While it may attract Ravi Teja’s hardcore fans, general audiences might find it exhausting.