Vijay Raghavendra and Bhavana Menon return with a good amount of suspense that keeps the audience hooked right till the end.
Vijay Raghavendra in 'Case of Kondana'. (Supplied)
The main element of a suspense drama is quite simple and complicated — keep the audience interested in the narration by invoking ample twists in the plot.
The most crucial aspect is to keep one guessing as to what happens next. The process is continuous with the momentum running right till the end. Only then, a suspense drama is most enjoyable; else, it is just another ordinary tale with no curious elements attached to it.
Coming to the Case of Kondana, does it offer the basic structure needed for a suspense thriller?
Let’s crack the case:
Case 1: Wilson (Vijay Raghavendra) is a new joinee as assistant sub-inspector. He manages to get the job on recommendation and bribe. He is yet to pay the bribe amount.
Case 2: A poor Hindi-speaking family struggles to get treatment for their son. The government doctor (Kushee) manages to convince one of her contacts to treat the ailing child for a lesser fee. They still need ₹5 lakh for treatment.
Case 3: ACP Lakshmi (Bhavana Menon) is under pressure from her higher-ups for not solving the serial killings that are happening in the city. Her father, also a cop, is deputed on night patrolling duty.
Petty case: A gang of rowdies creating havoc with no fear of cops hatches a plan for revenge.
Case 4: What is the Case of Kondana and who is the culprit behind it — this is what the film is all about.
Devi Prasad Shetty’s directorial ‘Case of Kondana’. (X)
The striking point of Case of Kondana is the honesty in characterisation. Different plots come together to make good sense in the narration.
Also, the realistic approach makes the movie interesting.
For instance, Vijay Raghavendra’s character Wilson is humble and sincere. But eventually, he becomes a victim of circumstances. Bribing to become a cop and his love life with a doctor, who belongs to a different religion, are just a few layers to the character. There is much more to be unravelled.
The inability to treat the ailing son and how the family gets struck by tragedy is a painful episode.
Similarly, Lakshmi (Bhavana) solves a serial killing case and suffers a personal loss. All this is depicted to good effect.
The personal bond between a father and a son, and a daughter and between two lovers is the inner soul in the plot that thickens as the cases get intertwined with each other and further complicates the whole scenario.
A still from the film ‘Case of Kondana’. (Supplied)
While the Case of Kondana, as a whole, is decent and worth watching, a few unanswered answers leave it dissatisfied.
The case that starts looking out for the serial killer/s is hurried, and the detection and the way it is handled leaves dissatisfied.
The amount of killing that takes and the involvement of rowdies is another part of the discontent.
However, the performances are top-notch — Vijay as Wilson and Rangayana Raghu as both a cop and a father.
Bhavana is a surprise package.
Kushee Ravi plays a meaty role — as a lover with a humanitarian angle.
Of all the cast, Vijay steals the show as the case/s goes into a serious mode.
Case of Kondana is good on various counts, from a performance point of view or the narration and making of the crucial elements needed to make it a decent suspense drama.
Watch this to solve the case, but do not reveal it after watching the case solved.
(Views expressed here are personal.)
May 03, 2024
May 03, 2024
May 02, 2024
May 02, 2024
May 02, 2024
