Temper

Temper (2015): Jr NTR’s Explosive Turn in a Hard-Hitting Cop Drama With Heart and Heat

Few Telugu action films balance punchy entertainment with real emotion the way Temper (2015) does. Directed by Puri Jagannadh and led by N. T. Rama Rao Jr. (Jr NTR, also known as Young Tiger NTR), this action-drama arrived at the right moment in his career. After a run of films that didn’t fully land, Temper helped reset the conversation around him.

Released on February 13, 2015, and produced by Bandla Ganesh under Parameswara Art Productions, the movie became a strong box office performer. It reportedly earned around ₹74.3 crore worldwide and gave audiences one of NTR’s most talked-about roles.

Plot Summary: A Dirty Cop Forced to Face Himself

Temper follows Daya (NTR), a corrupt and aggressive sub-inspector who gets transferred to Visakhapatnam (Vizag). He doesn’t hide who he is. Daya takes bribes, abuses power, and sticks close to local kingpin Waltair Vasu (Prakash Raj) and Vasu’s criminal brothers. As long as money keeps flowing, Daya keeps the system tilted in their favor.

Everything changes after a brutal gang rape case shakes the city. The victim’s suffering, and what follows, hits Daya in a way he can’t ignore. From there, the film shifts gears. The story moves from swagger and intimidation to guilt, anger, and a need to set things right.

Meanwhile, Daya’s girlfriend Shanvi (Kajal Aggarwal) gets pulled into the danger, and her kidnapping raises the stakes even more. As a result, Daya’s choices stop being about profit and start being about justice, even if it costs him. The second half leans into courtroom tension and big action beats, with the emotional push coming through clearly.

Vakkantham Vamsi is credited with the story, while Puri Jagannadh handles the screenplay and direction. The movie uses a familiar “corrupt cop turns good” setup, yet the later portions add weight through intensity and strong conflict.

Performances: NTR Carries the Film With Force

The biggest reason Temper works is Jr NTR’s performance as Daya. Early on, he plays him as shameless, threatening, and loud with his power. Later, he flips that energy into something raw and personal, especially in the emotional scenes and the rage-driven moments. That shift feels earned because he commits to both sides of the character.

• Jr NTR as Daya: Goes from crooked cop to a man chasing redemption, his breakdown scenes and fiery action blocks stand out.
• Prakash Raj as Waltair Vasu: Brings control and menace, and he makes the villain feel believable.
• Kajal Aggarwal as Shanvi: Adds warmth and support, although the role shrinks as the plot turns darker.
• Posani Krishna Murali: Works well as a senior officer who becomes part of Daya’s change.
• Supporting actors like Subbaraju and Tanikella Bharani help fill out the world and keep key scenes grounded.

Puri Jagannadh also gets credit for setting up high-voltage stretches that keep you locked in, especially the courtroom portions and the final clashes. Even when parts feel expected, the execution keeps the momentum going.

Technical Work and Music

On the technical side, Temper looks and feels like a polished commercial film. Shyam K. Naidu’s cinematography captures Vizag with a gritty tone when needed, and it still delivers the larger-than-life framing expected from a star vehicle. Editor S. R. Sekhar keeps the pace moving, so the story rarely drags for long.

• Songs and score: Anup Rubens composed the songs, mixing energetic tracks with an item number featuring Nora Fatehi. Mani Sharma’s background score does a lot of heavy lifting, especially during action bursts and emotional peaks.
• Production values: The film goes big on action choreography and presentation, and it shows in the staging and scale.

The first half leans into commercial beats, including comedy tracks with Ali and Saptagiri, plus songs and lighter scenes. After the turn, the tone gets heavier and more urgent. That shift also brings in the film’s message about corruption, justice, and women’s safety.

Box Office Impact and Long-Term Reputation

Temper opened strongly and became one of the major Telugu hits of 2015. It reportedly collected about ₹9.68 crore share on day one in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and went on to cross roughly ₹43 crore in lifetime share worldwide. Overseas, it performed well too, coming close to $1 million in the USA, and it ran for 50-plus days in several centers.

Just as important, the film gave Jr NTR a major boost and reminded audiences how well he fits intense, high-emotion roles. The story also traveled. It was remade in Hindi as Simmba (2018) starring Ranveer Singh, and in Tamil as Ayogya (2019), which shows how widely the core plot connected.

What Works and What Doesn’t

Strengths

• Jr NTR delivers one of his most powerful performances, with strong emotion and physical presence.
• The second half hits hard with memorable lines, courtroom drama, and high-stakes action.
• Prakash Raj adds weight as a threatening villain, and the supporting cast holds up well.
• Mani Sharma’s background score boosts tension and impact in key scenes.
• The film wraps a clear social message inside a crowd-pleasing format.

Drawbacks

• The first half uses standard commercial formulas, including familiar comedy bits.
• A few scenes stretch logic, and some turns feel predictable.
• The romance thread loses focus once the main conflict takes over.
• Puri’s louder style won’t work for viewers who prefer a restrained tone.

Final Verdict: A Strong Action-Drama With a Satisfying Payoff

Temper delivers more than routine mass action. It gives you a complete arc, with a lead character who starts ugly and ends up fighting for something bigger than himself. It isn’t flawless, but it’s effective where it counts, especially once the film turns serious. If you want a Telugu action-drama with real emotion and a solid redemption track, Temper deserves the time.

Rating: 3.75/5

Even years later, Temper still stands out as a film that highlighted Jr NTR’s range and reminded audiences how impactful a well-told commercial story can be when the emotion hits right.

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