Bagheera

The Pan India phenomenon that has touched the Kannada film industry in the last few years has become more of a bane to the Kannada cinema of late. Some filmmakers have tried too hard to make their movie to push for a Pan India release despite the lack of quality. This has also resulted in movies taking a longer time to be released after having spent a lot of money on the hype throughout its making cycle. There have been some good movies in the mix in the past year but Bagheera is that commercial movie which brings the much needed limelight back to Kannada industry. The vigilante/superhero angle is a rarely experimented genre in Kannada cinema and Bagheera does it quite well. Kudos to Hombale films and the director Dr Suri for promoting this movie the right way and not overhyping it.

The initial teaser and trailer of the movie looked good but it also made me very skeptical on how the movie looked heavily inspired by Black Panther or Batman. While it cannot be ruled out entirely, the director acknowledges the influence of Hollywood superheroes within the script. The story is not very unique or mind blowing but it is not too predictable either. While the movie being divided into chapters works sometimes, it sometimes feels abrupt. Some scenes in the first half are very short and the movie cuts into the next scene without much of a transition. The movie very practically portrays being a part of a corrupt system as a cop. The director very crisply integrates the family sentiment without too much drama. There is also a very good pay-off at the end for the same. As soon as the vigilante chapter of the movie kicks in, the action sequences keep on coming. The action sequences in the first half are artistically violent and provide some goosebump moments, The action sequences post the interval are slick at times but mostly over the top and not entirely practical. The climax fight seems very hurried and unconvincing and could have been set in a better surroundings. Cinematography and music work very well for most parts of the movie. The background score and the main title theme is very important for a movie like this and Ajneesh Loknath does a good job at not making it seem jarring. The songs mostly play in the background and there are no unnecessary song placements. There is no separate track for comedy but there are few lighthearted moments well integrated by using the main characters.

Sriimurali is a very underrated action star of South Indian cinema and it is always good to see him in roles like this. He has a very good screen presence to do action/mass movies like these. While Ugramm is still celebrated to this day, he hasn't really got a great boost from his releases post Ugramm apart from Mufti (which was a multistarrer). Bagheera is a much needed break for him and I hope he chooses more crispy scripts like this in the upcoming days. He looks the part throughout and is definitely the soul of the movie. Garuda Ram as the primary antagonist does look and act menacing but his character's evil arc isn't very convincing. There are many other co-antagonists (not sure if that is the right way of putting it) who feed very well into Bagheera's action episodes but their roles are very less explored. Rukmini Vasanth as the female lead is near perfect in her limited role. Prakash Raj and Rangayana Raghu's characters definitely stand out among the rest of the supporting characters. Both characters have great character arcs.

Bagheera may not be the most awaited or hyped Kannada Pan India release but it is a quality film for the scale that is. This sure is a refreshing Kannada action/superhero movie without any jarring elements.

This film brings Western superhero grandeur to real-life scenarios, with KGF/Hombale-style cinematography and massy dialogues. It's packed with intense, disturbing, and violent moments, making for a high-impact, gripping start.

The family bond established early on is heartfelt, creating an emotional anchor for the film. The romantic track between the leads feels fresh at first, with both characters strong in their own ways and sharing morals, but as the story progresses, it falls into the usual tropes and loses its charm.

The screenplay, though action-packed, feels rushed due to fast-paced editing, and at times, the choppy cuts fail to make a significant impact during the action sequences.

The film does a good job of presenting a societal dilemma around the definition of a hero. It explores the tension between an ideal, moral world and the harsh, practical reality where circumstances force people to compromise their values.

While the first half sets up a lot of conflict, the second half becomes more engaging, introducing new characters and stronger action pieces that elevate the story. As the story unfolds, it becomes predictable, with familiar twists. The final showdown feels dragged out, and a tighter edit would've made for a stronger conclusion. Still, the message remains thought-provoking.

While not perfect, the film is a commendable attempt at something new in the mass film genre. It's a one-time watch for fans of high-octane action and dramatic twists. The sequel hint leaves room for more, but personally, it didn't spark much anticipation.

A very average commercial entertainer! Absolutely nothing new in the storyline, same old story of the main lead trying to be a super hero by saving the masses in complete disguise as Bagheera. He single-handedly does fight hundreds together hooligans backed by weapons, guns etc without getting himself hurt, a totally unrealistic picture to believe into. But as an action entertainer, quite an average one. Originally a Kannada movie dubbed in all South Indian languages. Available in Netflix, my ratings 5/10!

A very average commercial entertainer! Absolutely nothing new in the storyline, same old story of the main lead trying to be a super hero by saving the masses in complete disguise as Bagheera. He single-handedly does fight hundreds together hooligans backed by weapons, guns etc without getting himself hurt, a totally unrealistic picture to believe into. But as an action entertainer, quite an average one. Originally a Kannada movie dubbed in all South Indian languages. Available in Netflix, my ratings 5/10!

Better Script could have made this well-mounted movie more exciting & enjoyable.

Acting of the hero is good, but, he looked his age in many scenes, not exactly 24 or 25. Cinematography, music, set design OK.

But, script is not tight. Nor ,the details.

There should have been more details about the negative characters . Should have offered a non-linear storyline, some more twists.

Vedanth's father's role is absurd. His dialogue & gesticulations in his last appearance were poor in taste. Police Commissioner 's action in stopping Vedanth is abrupt - there should have been more emphasis in developing this sub-plot.

As good as the first half of the movie is , the second half is equally disappointing. The movie is backed by amazing background score by ajneesh loknath and an extraordinary acting by Shri murli. First half of the story was really good, I went back in looking for a promising second half but the scenes were lagged unnecessarily, Action scenes are dragged unnecessarily by the director. Though every actor have delivered their 100% , the wow factor in the movie is Majorly missing. But overall it was a good theatre experience, if anyone wants to go to theatre to watch this movie, you'll definitely have a good one time watch experience.