IRavan

Karthik Jayaram, once a prominent figure in television and Hindi serials, makes a lackluster return to Kannada cinema with "IRavan," marking his supposed farewell to the industry. Directed by Rams Ranga, the film attempts to weave a suspenseful thriller around murders linked to a medical mafia, but falls flat from the outset.

The story opens with a clichéd chase scene where a nurse is pursued by thugs for crucial evidence, only to meet a predictable tragic end. Meanwhile, the narrative clumsily shifts to a convoluted backstory involving Ratnakar (Krishna Hebbale), an orphanage owner turned legislator, and Dr. Sathyamurthy (Avinash), a cardiologist with a forgettable subplot.

The main antagonist, Mithun Chakravarthy (Karthik Jayaram), portrayed as a philanthropic CEO with a dark side, manipulates orphans and deals in substandard drugs for profit. His encounters are marred by over-the-top action sequences, notably a laughable confrontation with a beggar mafia, where Jayaram fails to deliver convincing dialogue.

Vivek, in his debut role, shows potential but is overshadowed by the film's inconsistent direction and dated filmmaking techniques. Adhvithi Shetty's presence in song sequences adds little to salvage the film's disjointed narrative.

Despite a promising premise, "IRavan" squanders its potential under Rams Ranga's direction, resorting to tired tropes and failing to sustain viewer interest.