Dhoni, written and directed by Prakash Raj is a well-intended and sincere film with a good message. The film illustrates the conflict of interests of a father and his son; as their aspirations clash.

This film also deals about the problems with the current education system and a middle class father’s fight for his son’s better future.

Review: Dhoni is definitely worth a watch

CAST AND CREW:
Cast: Prakash Raj, Mugdha Godse, Akash (Puri Jagannath’s son), Radhika Apte, Nazar, Tenikella Bharani, Brahmanandam, Murali Sharma, Gollapudi Maruthi Rao, Melkote, Hema, Talaivasal Vijay, Ananth, Kasturi Suchi, Sriteja, Prabhu Deva (guest), Dhoni (cameo)
Cinematography – KV Guhan
Editing – Kishore Te
Lyrics – Sirivennela Sitaramasastry
Music – Illayaraja
Producer – Prakash Raj Productions
Story and direction – Prakash Raj
Rating:
STORY:
Subramaniam (Prakash Raj) is a lower middle class widower with two kids. He always runs for money doing all sorts of works right from dawn to dusk to bring up his daughter Kaveri (Sriteja) and Karthik (Akash). He wishes to give them good education. He wants to see his son to be an MBA graduate.
Karthik is a 14-year old son of Subramaniam. Karthik wants to become a good cricketer. His inspiration is Dhoni and like him, he wants to be an attacking wicket keeper- batsman.

While Subramaniam joins him in a good school, Akash fails in most of the subjects. However, his cricket coach (Nazar) is in all praise, as Karthik played the major role in winning a cricket tournament.

Kaveri often spends time with Nalini (Radhika Apte). Accidentally, Subramaniam gets to know that Nalini earns her living through prostitution and strictly orders his daughter to stay away from her. As Karthik was poor in studies, the principal tells Subramaniam to take his son out.

Immediately Subramaniam takes Karthik away from cricket coaching and made him to go a series of tuition classes. Karthik fails to cope up with studies even after leaving cricket, which makes Subramaniam to lose his patience and beats him up and injures his head for which he gets arrested. What happens next should be seen on-screen.

PERFORMANCE:
Prakash Raj has given one-man show with an electrifying performance. He has excelled in every scene. He carries this film completely on his shoulders.

Puri Jagannath’s son Akash is the hero in the film and he is extraordinary. He is fine within his limitations.

Radhika Apte, who is seen as his neighbour, is good.

Murali Sharma’s role is interesting as a teacher.

Nazar have done equally important roles to Prakash Raj in this movie as a cricket coach.

Mugdha Godse has played her part well.

Gollapudi Maruti Rao, Melkote, Talaivasal Vijay have done justice to their roles.

Prabhu Deva is seen in a special song.

Dhoni has made a guest appearance.

Prakash Raj adds to his credit that he balances his role as the protagonist and director. He should be praised for not only doing his best, but also for taking excellent job out of his technical team.

The film benefits from Ilayaraja’s inspiring background score which lifts the film. The special song with Prabhu Deva is cute and it goes with the narrative.

COMMENTS:
There are no commercial trappings like fancy camera angles, unwanted songs or clichéd sentiments.

Undoubtedly, the film will entertain the audiences and they will get a feel that the money spent on the tickets is worth.

The beauty of the narration is that the message applies to everyone and it might change your life.

Review 2
It's a treat to watch films that move away from showcasing unrealistic situations and people, to something that focuses almost exclusively on the travails of the middle class man who struggles to make ends meet, feed his children, educate them and try to make their dreams comes true.

Said to be a remake of the Marathi film Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho, directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, Duet Movies' Dhoni, actor Prakashraj's directorial debut in Tamil, manages to tick all the right boxes, most of the time.

You would be forgiven for thinking that the movie is about a would-be cricketer's dreams of becoming another Mahinder Singh Dhoni, but it's actually more about the journey of the boy's father.

Subramaniam (Prakashraj), a widower, works in a registrar's office and lives a hand-to-mouth existence selling pickles on the side to make sure his two kids get a good education.

While his daughter is devoted to her studies, son Karthik (Akash Puri) is interested in only one thing: cricket consumes his whole life and Dhoni is his god.

Subramaniam or Subbu, tries to change this. His friends and neighbours watch his efforts, including the pretty Nalini (Radhika Apte), whose help Subbu doesn't want at all for various reasons.

The more Subbu tries to din it into Karthik's head that he must study, the more Karthik rebels, aided by his coach (Nasser) who insists that he is supremely talented. With the board exams looming, his school obviously doesn't think so.

Matters escalate but Subbu is finally forced to realise that what he wants for his son may not necessarily be the best thing for the boy given the pitfalls of the preset education system.

Along the way, he also meets several people who turn out to be a godsend--even the irate Ghani Bhai (Murali Sharma), the moneylender.

Prakashraj excels in the fast-paced first half, pouring emotions, humour and embarrassment into every situation, from buying vegetables, wandering around wearing a helmet, and begging his son's school principal to give him another chance.

He brings the slightly rotund, hapless, middle class man to life as he harangues against an education system that will not let his child excel in what he wants.

The minus, if anything, is that he is very much the same as he has been in every movie before this, and offers nothing new. Akash Puri fits the bill.

Radhika Apte is very pretty but more than that, she brings a vulnerability to her role that is very convincing. Murali Sharma is great to watch, with his hilarious and emotional turns.

Ilaiyaraja's music is gentle and unobtrusive, and although it doesn't rise to great heights, Vaangum Panathukkum is a nice touch (with Prabhudeva in a cameo).

K V Guhan's cinematography is an added bonus, while Kishore Te's editing makes sure the pacing stays right.

Prakashraj certainly hits the right notes: his dialogues are meaningful, and the screenplay has few dull moments.

The second half gets slightly tedious with its platitudes and overt emotion and the very predictable turn of events but maybe that's inevitable in a feel-good movie.

Dhoni is definitely worth a watch.

Review 3