Ravi Teja at 57: Still Racing Ahead

Ravi Teja turns a year older today (January 26). The “Maharaja Mass” tag still fits, but has recently dropped that tag for an unspecified reason. He may return to the label when an action movie script embraces him.

A clear pattern can be seen in his recent films. It requires scale and speed. And he wants to entertain unapologetically. Krack set the tone. It was raw. The police role was personal. Ravi Teja looked completely in charge. The cool was back. The box office responded immediately. This was Tollywood’s first big hit after the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dhamaka was a commercial riot, with punchy one-liners and high-energy songs. Ravi Teja leaned towards him. No claim. There are no restrictions. The result was one of the greatest successes of his career. Directed by Trinadha Rao Nakkina, the film starred Sreeleela, who would later star in Mass Jatara.

Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi has added another check mark to this list. A festive entertainer who travels well across centers this Sankranthi, he has shown comfort with newer storytelling rhythms. Directed by Kishore Tirumala, the film increased Ravi Teja’s commercial appeal amidst tough competition in BO.

Film reviewers say Ravi Teja is no longer chasing the “young hero” image. He adjusts roles and changes body language. But the energy remains intact.

It is easy to forget the experimental phase. Movies like Neninthe, Khadgam and Itlu Sravani Subrahmanyam remind us of another Ravi Teja. These were not mass cinema. Today Ravi Teja stands at an interesting point. He balances mass films with calculated risks.

Here’s wishing the star hero a happy birthday!