Vijay D plays mercurial do-gooder

The violent lover boy, varyingly called a symbol of toxic masculine behaviour by the gender-neutral media has been ever present in Indian cinema.

It has recently gained phenomenal traction with the new sensation, Vijay Deverakonda, taking it to a different level altogether in a few of his recent films.

'Arjun Reddy' is the best example which is now at an all-India level with its Hindi version 'Kabir Singh' doing thunderous business. Indeed, a tempting formula which none would like to stop exploiting.

In this Friday release, the impact of 'Geeta Govindam' pair, with Rashmika Mandanna bringing up the female part is on full throttle in 'Dear Comrade', a nearly three-hour long, indulgent flick.

The camera is fully besotted with the hero, who is a mercurial do-gooder, honest to a large extent, yet allowing his fists to do the talking most of the times.

This boy with his gang is trouble in Kakinada, where he constantly is at loggerheads with the authorities in college and the local politicians.

The heroine, dramatically introduced as a state-level cricket player, comes in from Hyderabad for a wedding and then the film moves into neighbourhood territory.

Loosely fitting in the ideological reference Comrade into a convenient, cinematic narrative, director Bharat Kamma takes it at his own pace.

Of course, there may have been compulsions to give enough screen space to the two top stars, he has to satiate their respective fans.

That he does, with an intimate, slo mo kind of an approach with which he builds the love story between them. This takes up the first half, a treat for many young things in love.

The second half, where one expects quick, rapid fire action warms up at its own speed, with the hero shown to be on a self-realisation journey, which unluckily works for him only at the climax as the heroine, with a misunderstood impression about his behaviour, refuses to concede to his overpowering affection.

With the compulsion to end it with a feel good tone, the film which by then is centred on the heroine takes a critical look at the sexual harassment in sports field.

In any case, it is the hero who has to ignite the passion in her life, which he does to a devastating ending.

The film, which could have done with a lesser running time by at least 15 minutes, may yet be sustained by the collegiate crowd, which is yet to veer away from his impish charm.