Raghavendra Stores review: Escapades of an unmarried man in his 40s that end on a high note

After the humongous success of Kantara (2022), the Hombale Films banner returns with Raghavendra Stores starring versatile actor Jaggesh in an unusual yet sensible film.

Director Santhosh Ananddram, who delivered superhit films for the banner like Rajakumara (2017) and Yuvarathnaa (2021) — both starring the late Dr Puneeth Rajkumar — picks up a sensitive subject to present it with humour at its best.

The story

While the film lasts only for one hour and forty-four minutes, the bulk of it is about the protagonist (Jaggesh), a cook at a hotel-cum-food catering service owned by his father (Dattanna).

The crux of Raghavendra Stores is that Jaggesh remains unmarried even at the age of 41. Reason? He faces rejection due to his profession and age.

In between, the character of a wannabe MLA (Achyuth Kumar) holds suspense for his ulterior motives.

Will the cook ever find his match, or will he remain a bachelor is what the movie has in store for the audience.

Late marriage

Though it sounds hilarious at the outset, the issue of late marriage has been a matter of concern in the present age which is marred by modern lifestyle. Santhosh Ananddram uses it to good effect.

The saga continues even after the protagonist’s marriage — as to whether the couple will finally be consummated.

Raghavendra Stores also talks about surrogacy, and adoption before it deals with a broader message.

Also Read: Malayalam actor Shane Nigam approaches AMMA, refutes charges

Strong points

Until it hits the final stage, Raghavendra Stores is more or less an average entertainer with the typical humour ably shouldered by Jaggesh.

Swetha Srivastav, Dattanna, and Achyuth Kumar add value to the plot.

It is the final 10-15 minutes that starts making sense. The flick ends on a high end with a message — “photography is prohibited here”.

Flaws

However, at times, Raghavendra Stores gives an impression of an overly done effort to invoke humour in the script.

The entire experience moves haphazardly in a zig-zag pattern that fails to initially match, or connect to the focal point.

Also Read: Bhagyashree on her cameo in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan

Verdict

Though Raghavendra Stores starts with typical humour, the conclusion part makes it worth a one-time watch.

Do watch the film for the escapades of the late marriage saga and also for the hard-hitting message.

(Views expressed are personal.)