Gurudev Hoysala review: The popular rugged cop is back with Daali and Naveen Shankar’s top-class performances

The Kannada film industry has produced some of the best films with star heroes playing the role of tough cops.

Loved by the audience for its mass appeal, punching dialogues, and villains with loads of fight sequences, the tale of an honest policeman on the silver screen is back with a bang!

Daali Dhananjaya’s 25th venture — Gurudev Hoysala — is loaded with all the above-mentioned characteristics. It also highlights a heinous crime that’s crippling our society — honour killings.

The cop story

Gurudev (Daali Dhananjaya) is a rugged, daring, and fearless police inspector. He is transferred to Athani to trace a missing cop.

He comes across a young couple who are picked up by a corrupt policeman after they refuse to pay him a bribe.

Gurudev is told that they are orphans and are heading to a mass wedding ceremony being organised by a local leader where they want to tie the know.

Gurudev gets them married at a police station. However, little did he know that this decision to unite the couple who claimed to be “orphans” would put him into trouble that lasts for the next two hours-plus.

The rest of the story of Gurudev Hoysala is a good watch with all the elements that keep the audience engaged till the end.

Daali & Naveen’s show all the way

While Gurudev Hoysala marks a milestone in Daali’s acting career, being his 25th venture, Naveen Shankar returns with yet another exuberating performance in an antagonist role.

Dhananjay’s power-packed performance is one of the highlights of the film that is even powerfully backed by Naveen Shankar’s presence.

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The first half is more engaging with all the usual cop versus bad guys scenarios.

The second half starts to drain but holds on with a sensible take on a serious topic which is why the director claims it to be based on true incidents.

Honour killings

Many Indian films across various languages have effectively focused on heinous crimes such as honour killings.

In Gurudev Hoysala, the same has been brilliantly blended to make it commercially viable. There is hardly any humour or at least a fantastically composed song that could have added value to the cop story.

Having said that, it is a decent film that does not make one regret taking their precious time out to watch it in a theatre.

Thumbs up

If you are one of those who love watching cop-hero movies and can sustain all that drama and action which comes along with it, then do not miss Gurudev Hoysala.

While it’s a treat for Daali’s fans, watch it for Naveen’s impeccable act, too.

(Views expressed are personal.)