Hyderabad, April 10: Adivi Sesh’s much-hyped action drama Dacoit opened to average reviews on Thursday, with critics calling it a “half-baked love story wrapped in predictable twists” despite strong advance bookings and Sesh’s intense dual-role performance.
The film, directed by Shanmukha Prasanth, hit 1,200 screens worldwide after record pre-sales crossing ₹5 crore in Telugu states. Opening day collections hovered around ₹21 crore worldwide, decent but below the ₹25 crore target set by trade analysts.
GreatAndhra rated it 2.5/5, praising Sesh’s transformation as bandit-cop duo but criticising uneven pacing and weak romance track. “Technical values shine, action blocks deliver, but emotional connect falls flat,” the review noted. 123Telugu echoed with 2.75/5, calling it “style over substance.”
Sesh plays vengeful dacoit Veera and determined officer Vikram in Rayalaseema’s faction backdrop. Mrunal Thakur’s love interest role drew flak for lack of depth. Devi Sri Prasad’s score and action choreography earned consistent praise across reviews.
Audience reactions split sharply:
- Positive: “Sesh elevation mass! Interval twist fire,” tweeted Vijayawada fan Raju M.
- Negative: “Second half boring, romance forced,” posted Hyderabad viewer Sravani K.
- BookMyShow rating settled at 3.1/5 from 12,000+ users.
| Aspect | Rating | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Story | 2/5 | Predictable twists |
| Action | 4/5 | Mass elevation blocks |
| Music (DSP) | 3.5/5 | BGM carries weak songs |
| Sesh Performance | 4/5 | Career-best intensity |
| Overall | 2.75/5 | Watch for hero mass |
Trade expert Ramesh Bala called opening “safe but shaky.” “Day 2 crucial—word-of-mouth mixed. Needs weekend push to hit ₹75 crore target,” he said. Competition from Tamil dubbed Retta Thala split family crowds.
Producer Mythri Movie Makers remains optimistic. “Audience loving Sesh mass moments. Collections growing steadily,” a spokesperson stated. Premieres saw housefull boards, but morning shows dipped to 35-45% occupancy.
Director defended creative choices. “Dual role demanded romance backbone. Not every film needs perfect love story,” Prasanth told media post-premiere.
Social media trends showed #DacoitReview divided—Sesh fans hailed “mass Maharaja,” while critics questioned commercial shift from Goodachari style.
Dacoit‘s lukewarm reception tests Adivi Sesh’s commercial aspirations after spy-thriller success, with weekend performance deciding if style triumphs over substance in Telugu cinema’s crowded summer race.
