TheReviewMonk is back — critic reviews for Indian cinema, aggregated. Read our story →

TheReviewMonk
Dictator backdrop

Dictator

15 January 2016Telugu2h 35m

What critics are saying

Critical reception for Dictator is largely mixed-to-negative, with most reviewers finding it a formulaic, predictable mass entertainer that fails to rise above its routine screenplay.

Read all 11 reviews →
Sriwass DirectorKona Venkat StoryGopimohan StoryS. Thaman MusicShyam K. Naidu Cinematography

Dictator is a film that film revolves around the murder of a narcotics officer who is killed after he busts a rave party involving a minister's son. Chandrasekhar Dharma, who works in a supermarket, gets involved in this because of the officer's sister. How he solves the mystery forms the story of the film.

Critic Consensus

Critical reception for Dictator is largely mixed-to-negative, with most reviewers finding it a formulaic, predictable mass entertainer that fails to rise above its routine screenplay. Balakrishna's performance, dialogue delivery, and screen presence are consistently singled out as the film's primary saving grace across reviews. Common criticisms include a slow first half, weak villains, unfunny comedy, and a story that critics repeatedly described as rehashed and entirely predictable. The consensus is that the film holds narrow appeal limited to Balakrishna's fanbase and B and C centre audiences, while general viewers are likely to find little of value.

10 rated reviews · 6 positive · 2 mixed · 2 negative

Praised: Balakrishna's performance and dialoguesCriticised: Predictable, routine screenplay and story

AI-generated summary of 11 critic reviews · may contain errors

Report inaccuracy

Critic Reviews (11)

Updated
123Telugu Team· 123Telugu
7.0
Dictator is a film which has all the necessary ingredients of a typical commercial entertainer. Balakrishna's thumping performance, mass dialogues, fights and enough glamour elements will keep the fans and B and C center audience happy. If you ignore the routine and predictable story line, this film will be a decent festival outing this weekend. Go watch it.
Read full review ↗
Telugu Mirchi Reviewer· Telugu Mirchi
7.0
One can easily say that Dictator becomes a commercial hit for this Sankranthi season, as Balakrishna's previous films Samarasimha Reddy and Narasimha Naidu. Mainly, the film attains huge success at B and C centres. It becomes a double treat for this Sankranthi for all Nandamuri fans with the film "Dictator".
Read full review ↗
Pranita Jonnalagedda· Times Of India
7.0
In the list of fails in this film would be the comedy which leaves you with little or no laughs at all. And then, the first half moves on to be very slow, though it is compensated by the pace of the latter part of the film.
Read full review ↗
TeluguCinema Reviewer· TeluguCinema
6.0
Dictator is regular mass movie aimed at Nandamuri Balakrishna's fans. Strictly for mass audiences.
Read full review ↗
Venkateswara Rao· AP Today
6.0
Post interval portions raise some hopes but the movie loses steam after that but the climax is good. Weak villains made it an ordeal as there is no scope for elevating heroism which holds key for any Balakrishna's movie. Everything is predictable but the mass elements make it a watchable fare. Balakrishna fans and masses may enjoy few dialogues and other stuff from their favorite hero. Others may find it a bit dated. On a whole Dictator is a decent mass entertainer for the genre lovers. Verdict: Dictator will rule.
Read full review ↗
ILuvCinema Team· ILuvCinema
6.0
On overall, this film has all necessary elements like, action, punch dialogues, comedy, romance and dance. But, as the story, it appears to be old, one can easily predict about the scene, which comes next. If you want to see Balayya's electrifying dialogue delivery, then you will surely like this film.
Read full review ↗
Venkat Arikatla· Great Andhra
5.0
Director Sri Wass and writers have failed Balakrishna. All in all, "Dictator" is a mess. Except for Balakrishna and Anjali's presence, the movie doesn't have anything to talk about.  Bottom-line: Old Wine In Old Bottle!
Read full review ↗
Andhra Headlines Reviewer· Andhra Headlines
5.0
Had Srivaas used good screenplay it could have been better. However he did not do it. Except for some Balakrishna dialogues, few comedy scenes, actions scenes film has nothing to talk. Balakrishna fans may enjoy this average flick once. The prestigious film from Balakrishna disappointed people. Dictator failed to show his Power!
Read full review ↗
Ravi Kandala· Fully Hyderabad
4.0
Stay away from Dictator and wait for Balayya's 100th film. Hopefully, that will not be yet another rehash of Baasha.
Read full review ↗
Kumar Siva· Ap Herald
3.0
As you walk out of the theatre having watched "Dictator", you feel sorry for the film and film maker, since this was one that probably had tremendous potential, but which failed to evolve into an exciting film on screen. Everything feels damn boring, predictable, dragged barring the acting and for once, even with zero expectations a film seemed lameo.
Read full review ↗
BookMyShow Team· BookMyShow
Not rated
This is an out-and-out commercial flick riding solely on Balakrishna's star status. A must do for any Balakrishna fan, a happy and wise skip for anyone else.
Read full review ↗

Cast & Crew

Details

Release Date
15 January 2016
Runtime
2h 35m
Language
Telugu

User Ratings & Reviews

No ratings or reviews yet — be the first to share your take.

TMDB

This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.