Forest review: This Kannada supernatural film promises laughs, delivers disappointments
One is the latest Kannada supernatural film with an ensemble cast of established comic actors, shows ability with comedy but falters in delivering an engaging story.
Kannada supernatural comedy film One was released in theaters on January 24, 2025. Featuring an ensemble cast, Chikkanna, Rangayana Raghu, Gurunandan, Anish, Archana Kottige, and Sharan Shetty, the film is directed by Chandra Mohan Chintada. While the trailer promises a fun ride into a mysterious forest hiding treasure, does it manage to deliver on this promise? Let’s find out!
The plot revolves around a mysterious forest, once ruled by a dacoit – notorious for smuggling sandalwood and elephant tusks. The character is inspired by real-life smuggler Veerappan. Five persons from the same village receive information about a hidden treasure in a nearby forest area. The lengths they go to to get their hands on this treasure and the witty dynamics between these characters become the crux of the story.
Take a look at the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noninev3g7i
With a traditional approach to storytelling, the film begins by introducing the main characters and their dynamics. From there, it takes the path of an adventure drama with a treasure hunt. The first half of the film, though falls short from a story point of view, keeps the audience engaged with the humorous dialogues, mostly led by the duo of Chikkaanna and Rangayana Raghu.
However, the turn of events around the interval and the second half serve as major disappointments. The inclusion of supernatural elements that replace comedy, the only aspect that should work in the film’s favor, negatively impacts the overall experience. When scenes that should be taken seriously inspire pity laughs, that’s not a good sign for a movie.
Disha by Chandra Mohan Chintada looks very old. Many examples in the film are reminiscent of the 2010s, not invoking nostalgia but rather a sense of stagnation in the evolution of filmmaking. The cinematography, editing, and music further contribute to this dated feel.
Choosing to abandon the comedy in the second half, despite having a cast composed primarily of established comic actors, leads the film to an unsatisfying ending. While the trailer looked promising, the film only shows potential in the first half, but fails to impress as the plot progresses throughout the proceedings.
