DJ Tillu

Story: When a local DJ and his affair with a young woman put him square in the middle of a crime, he must do his best to get out of the predicament he’s in.

Review: When a film’s intention is to make the audience laugh, it doesn’t really need to follow logic, especially when it’s made well. DJ Tillu, directed by Vimal Krishna and written by Siddhu Jonnalagadda, is one such film where you don’t want to question the process and instead, just relax and enjoy the ride.

Bala Gangadhar Tilak aka DJ Tillu (Siddhu Jonnalagadda) is a young Hyderabadi guy from the lanes of Malkajgiri. When we say DJ, we don’t mean that he plays at swanky pubs in the city. Instead, his DJ-ing skills are shown off during the famous Bonalu celebrations, local jataras and other such events. He falls for a singer called Radhika (Neha Shetty) and it’s not long before they’re attracted to each other.

The typical Hyderabadi dialect might be used to generate some fun moments in DJ Tillu but it’s so spot-on. The first half of the film is really fun and there are hardly any dull moments. But Radhika soon finds herself in midst of a crime and, of course, also drags in DJ Tillu. This leaves one wanting to know more in the second half and it makes for an interesting watch. However, numerous characters are soon roped in, including Shawn (Prince Cecil) and a police officer (Brahmaji) in a film where there are already too many. Both begin their hunt for Tillu and Radhika and the story loses pace even if the wit in the dialogues continues.

The whole film revolves around Radhika and the murky incidents surrounding her, so why the film is titled DJ Tillu is something only the makers can answer. Director Vimal Krishna also brings in an emotional angle that tries to switch things up from the humour. As things unfold, you realise, the film falters and the post-interval portions are not as great as the pre-interval ones. The music and DJ beats throughout the film however are definitely a great add-on.

Siddhu deserves a shout out for pulling off the titular role with swag. Though the character and slang might seem like a parody of numerous young heroes, it is evident it’s intentional. Neha Shetty is really impressive and the fact that she looks gorgeous is just a cherry on top. She handles the grey shades of her character well too. Prince, Brahmaji are the perfect choice for their roles.

Much like Jathi Rathnalu, DJ Tillu relies heavily on dialogue and less on the actual story at hand. Such films usually end up being the perfect weekend watch, so this one’s for you if you enjoy humour.