‘Nayeem Diaries’, a glimpse into the renegade’s life
Hyderabad: Not many filmmakers would dare to take up the story of a controversial figure like gangster Nayeem onto the silver screen. Daamu Balaji directorial ‘Nayeem Diaries’ paints an overview of former naxalite and alleged criminal Nayeemuddin’s life on the screen. The movie, which features Vasishta Simha in the title role, is out in theatres. […]
Updated On - 10 December 2021, 11:27 PM
Hyderabad: Not many filmmakers would dare to take up the story of a controversial figure like gangster Nayeem onto the silver screen. Daamu Balaji directorial ‘Nayeem Diaries’ paints an overview of former naxalite and alleged criminal Nayeemuddin’s life on the screen. The movie, which features Vasishta Simha in the title role, is out in theatres.
Bhongir-based slained gangster Nayeemuddin gets attracted to the ideology of the left and joins the forces of naxalism. In the process, he develops hatred against the police forces and he draws the first blood – the victim is a Director of Inspector General (DIG) Jagannadha Sharma, who gets killed at the cricket stadium in the city in broad daylight. Nayeem gets a rousing welcome by his jail inmates. However, the unfair treatment that his sister Zareena receives from the naxal group makes him repulsed and aggressive. The renegade who thinks the military fatigues that he wore has a purpose, takes a complete U-turn to become covert for the cops. He further excels in hampering the naxal movement in the region by helping police.
The life of Nayeem always fascinated filmmakers in the Telugu film industry. His rise from a land mafia kingpin to reportedly being in a position to influence the top brass of State police — Nayeem’s story has twists and turns. Director Daamu Balaji does his research in breaking knots and making the story crisp to fit in the bracket of cinematic drama. The clash of egos, internal politics, the conflicts within the ultras, Daamu tries to show in detail the journey of the former naxal as much as he intends to portray the facts without making it too fictional. The first half is how Nayeem frightens the political clout, executes plans from jail, conflicts within the group, the personal loss of his brother and the honour of his sister – all changing his thinking.
The second half is about Nayeem seeking revenge and amid high voltage action sequences, drama and suspense, how he becomes the most wanted criminal in the hit list of police.
However honest it might appear on the screen, one might think that story could’ve done better with an ounce of emotion and taking. Vasishta Simha is bang on the target as he looks dreadful and frightening as Nayeem. The actors Yagna Shetty, Nikhil Devadula and Samyukta Hornad did well. Dealing with such scripts has its own challenges and pitfalls for any filmmaker but for exceptions like Ram Gopal Varma. Overall, the film just falls short of a well narrated cinematic story.
Director: Daamu Balaji
Cast: Vasishta Simha
Music: Arun Prabhakar
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