Following the trend of recent times, Damaal Dumeel too is touted as a dark comic thriller. Directed by Shree (a former assistant to Shankar), it’s about the power of money and of how it can influence ones life and decisions. It tracks the events in the life of an out- of- work software engineer who accidentally gets a lot of money and decides to keep it for himself. But it’s tainted money being passed from one gangster to another, the thugs determined to track the culprit and teach him a lesson. The premise, that reminds one of films like Cash, is an interesting one. But it’s probably the debutant director’s inexperience that comes in the way of making it an engaging fare.
Vaibhav has been a part of multi starrers, and it’s his first lead role. But the actor is totally out of his element here, not quite able to handle a role with varied shades. His Moneykandan (the change in spelling for the sake of numerology, he says) is a software engineer who is out of job and in deep financial crises. He has loans to repay and family commitments.
There is Meera, his girl friend, who unaware of his circumstances, desires he meets her parents to get their approval. And when a bounty worth a crore literally lands at his door step, Money is in no mood to return it to it’s owner. Remya, a consummate actress hardly has anything substantial to do here. There is a belligerent cop in Money’s building, and a handful of thugs moving in and out of his flat and getting killed. The screenplay is dull with logistical flaws and situations that lack conviction.
The whole scenario of Money purchasing a false passport to the US for more than a year’s stay, is sans any sense or logic. The guy probably in his excitement forgot that one needs a visa to go there. The narration is stagey and juvenile at times. In such a dull screenplay, it’s Kota as the thug who manage to get a few laughs.
Verdict: Damaal Dumeel neither has enough humour nor any real thrill to engage one’s attention.
Film: Damaal Dumeel
Director: Shree
Cast: Vaibhav, Remya Nambeeshan, Kota Srinivasrao, Sayaji Shinde