Kannada actor Sri Murali is returning to the big screen with Bagheera after almost three years. Known as the “Roaring Star” of Kannada cinema, a nickname he earned after delivering the blockbuster Ugram, which was Prashanth Neel’s debut film, Mr. Murali clearly put in significant effort in this film directed by Dr. Suri Is. The vigilante action drama is bankrolled by Vijay Kiragandur’s Hombale Films, known for producing the KGF series, Kantara and Salaar. But has the dedication and effort put in by Team Bagheera paid off on screen? Let’s find out!

Bagheera tells the story of a child named Vedant (Sri Murali), who obsessively dreams of becoming a superhero in real life until his mother leads him on a path where he can pursue his passion through a profession. can increase; Be it a doctor, a soldier or a police officer like his father. Vedant decides to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a police officer, but realizes that his view of law enforcement does not match reality. He decides to channel his inner hero, creating Bagheera, adopting the ferocity of a vigilante with the aim of serving society by bringing justice to those affected by crime. As Vedant continues down this path, can one man, Bagheera, stand against an organized crime syndicate? What consequences might his loved ones face if his identity is revealed? And will a watchdog merely follow the law while dispensing justice that is denied? The answers to these questions take the story of this film forward.

Congratulations to lead actor Sri Murali, director Dr. Suri, Vijay Kiragandur’s Hombale Films and the rest of the team for taking up a risky concept and putting their heart and soul into this film. As mentioned in promotional interviews, this experimental superhero film may be ahead of its time, but will it be based on Hanuman? only time will tell. But the nervousness seen among the producers before the release of the film is certainly understandable.

Dr Suri, who previously directed the Yash starrer Kannada film Lucky, returns to the director’s seat after more than a decade. Having been involved in high-concept films like the KGF series and Salaar, he takes the original story provided by Prashanth Neel and paints a beautiful picture. However, it becomes clear that, despite exposure to mass cinema and fondness for the superhero genre, there is still a gap in his ability to deliver heightened scenes with the same impact as Neil. Many scenes inspire “ooohs” but fall short of “wow” moments.

Mr Murali carries the film on his broad shoulders, and he does it beautifully. While he has played mostly brutal characters since his sleeper hit Ugraam, his role in Bagheera shows different shades of the realm of vengeance. His drastic physical transformation for the film had a major impact, as his impressive size established Vedanta and Bagheera as imposing forces. Rukmini Vasantha does not have a very prominent role but she does justice as a strong support to Vedanta. However, Garuda Ram of KGF fame is somewhat underwhelming as the main villain. The rest of the cast including Prakash Raj, Rangayan Raghu, Achyuth Kumar, Sudha Rani and others deliver strong performances.

Technically the film has both strengths and weaknesses. The cinematography lacks continuity; While the money shots are impressive, the creativity in other scenes seems to be lacking. Ajneesh Loknath’s music is average, with some moments where it enhances the scenes and some moments where it weakens. In some high-profile scenes, although the visuals suggest a hair-raising moment, the music does not fully realize the effect. A notable highlight of the film is undoubtedly the set design. Clearly inspired by the Batman comics and films, the director and his team have created visually stunning set pieces, especially the money shots. Action is the backbone of this film, and while the choreography is almost superb, the camera work in the action sequences leaves room for improvement.

In conclusion, it has been a long time since such a well-intentioned, experimental effort on this scale has been undertaken in the Kannada film industry. Bagheera is worth watching and makes for an exciting theater experience this Diwali. Fans of the superhero genre, don’t miss this “Desi Batman x Black Panther” movie. Such concepts are rare in India, and Bagheera certainly deserves appreciation; With a little patience and understanding.