Nikamma
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2024 8:05 pm
**Review Summary: *Nikamma***
*Nikamma* is a remake of the 2017 Telugu film *Middle Class Abbayi* and blends family drama with action, thriller, and comedy. The film follows Adi (Abhimanyu Dassani), an aimless young man, who is asked by his elder brother to live with his strict sister-in-law, Avni (Shilpa Shetty), when she gets posted to a new job. Avni is an RTO officer who is in conflict with a local goon (Abhimanyu Singh) running an illegal taxi service. As Adi initially resents Avni, he later understands her motivations and vows to protect her after learning that the goon has put a contract on her life.
The film starts off with exaggerated and loud scenes, like Adi winning a cricket match with eidetic memory, and Shilpa Shetty's portrayal of an idealized Durga figure in Adi's imagination. The romance between Adi and Shirley Setia's character is fresh, with the girl taking on the traditionally male role of initiating courtship. However, once the film shifts to the conflict between the hero and the villain, it becomes predictably formulaic, with escalating loudness and bombast. The action sequences and drama grow increasingly over-the-top, with the film dragging towards its conclusion, and the story becoming repetitive.
Abhimanyu Dassani is earnest in his attempt to transition into a mass hero role, giving his all to the loud and over-the-top portrayal of Adi. Shilpa Shetty, marking her return to the big screen, plays the strict, tough bhabhi convincingly and even performs some stunts. However, the emotional depth that was present in the original is missing here, particularly in the dynamic between the bhabhi and devar (sister-in-law and brother-in-law). Shirley Setia provides the romantic interest but her role remains more about adding visual appeal than substance.
While *Nikamma* has its moments of humor and action, it ultimately struggles due to its lack of emotional depth and the imbalance between its action and drama. The film could have benefited from a more nuanced approach to its family dynamics and less predictability in its storytelling.