One of the most important aspects of any superhero movie is how visually competent it is in terms of visual effects and images. 'Bagheera' scores high here.
A poster of the film 'Bagheera'. (X)
Bagheera starring Sriimurali in the titular role is directed by Dr Suri and written by Prashanth Neel.
The film’s purpose is set in the opening few minutes when a young Vedanth learns from his mother that superheroes in real life aren’t those with superpowers but those who stand by their truth and ideals.
The film takes the vigilante route, with an ideal cop masquerading as a superhero to take on the bad guys.
If that were to be seen, Bagheera is pretty much a simple story like most superhero tales, where an honest person is up for a crusade against a gigantic villain — here it is Garuda Ram as Rana.
From taking on rapists and harassers, Vedanth ends up unearthing a huge racket of organ trade where people right from young kids to elders are kidnapped and eventually robbed of their organs.
Of course, this is not an easy task for Bagheera to take on and he finds some rather unconventional accomplices. But, like most superheroes, he works alone.
The film has been divided into seven chapters and each one builds up Bagheera’s character and purpose till the climax. The fact that the makers have kept it linear helps in many ways as the story remains simple to follow.
The end credits also promise a sequel with a hint of the eighth chapter to the viewers.
‘Bagheera’ is an action thriller. (X)
One of the most important aspects of any superhero movie is how visually competent it is in terms of visual effects and images. Bagheera scores high here.
One can see some solid work going into the construction of the big fight and chase scenes and the result is good. Similarly, the cinematography and sound also complement the film.
Unfortunately, though, there are some scenes one wishes the visuals were a tad brighter as that dark grey-shaded world is not really required at all times. But those are just minor grouses.
The film also has some good editing, especially in the climax where many scenes are tied up and the parallel editing of those scenes is cleverly constructed.
That said, the screenplay could have been a little tighter, as this film does get a little slow at moments.
The romantic track, especially in the second half, seems to be more of a hindrance to the story rather than the character enhancement of Bagheera it aimed to be.
Some scenes, especially the song sequence that follows a slap from Bagheera, do not sit well at all. Maybe Sandeep Reddy Vanga and his characters might appreciate the romance bit there, but this arc is debatable.
‘Bagheera’ is directed by Dr Suri. (X)
When it comes to the performances, the film is an all-in-all Sriimurali show and he stands up to the challenge.
It is a physically challenging role and his agility is commendable. The writing too is tailored to Sriimurali’s acting style, so that adds to the charm. This one definitely will sit well with his fans. It might not have put-and-out whistle-worthy moments, but it still has enough heroism for people to enjoy.
Rukmini Vasanth has a limited role and she does a good job. Achyuth Kumar and Rangayana Raghu ably delivered what was expected of them.
Though, the other standout performer along with Sriimurali is Prakash Raj. His acting evokes laughs and entertainment in the second half and he makes the entire chase game in the second half worthwhile.
Bagheera is a fun watch for those who want a commercial film with a little different storyline. The vigilante genre is new to Kannada, so it does offer the viewer something exciting from the other releases.
But whether this does live up to it even with all the other options from other languages that are available aplenty — is a different debate altogether.
(Edited by Sumavarsha. Views expressed here are personal)
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