Bagheera is a Kannada superhero thriller written & directed by Dr. Suri and produced by Hombale films. It hit the theatres on October 31st and fared well at the box office. It is now steaming on Netflix and is already among the most-watched flicks at the moment.
Storyline
Vedanth Prabhakar, a cop’s son grows up idolizing superheroes and dreams of becoming one, himself. His mother inspires him with the true essence of heroism, nurturing a dream in him to become a cop one day. Fast forward, and he’s all grown up, proudly displaying the badge as an IPS officer in Mangalore. But here’s the twist—when the corrupt system throttles his fight against injustice, Vedanth takes matters into his own hands. Determined to make a difference, he takes on the alter ego of Bagheera, a masked vigilante who operates outside the law. But as he claws his way through the nets of the criminal underworld, he finds himself face-to-face with some dangerous biggies like Pujari and Rana.
The choice looms before him: will he embrace the life of Vedanth and seek solace in the arms of his beloved, or will he remain Bagheera, treading further down the perilous path he’s committed to?
Our critique
If you are a Gen-X human, you would find the plot to be a deja-vu of Amitabh’s Shahenshah. The first half hooks you right in, diving into Vedant’s journey—his rigorous training, his first thrilling missions as a cop and the spark that turns him into Bagheera. The intense stunts and raw, no-holds-barred fight sequences once he becomes Bagheera, are a treat. The camerawork captures every punch, kick, and gunshot with finesse, and the direction holds its ground.
I feel the film suffers on two aspects. The romance between Vedanth and Sneha – it feels more like a placeholder. The chemistry is missing, and it adds little to the overall narrative. Also, some of the action sequences come across as overly repetitive, resembling levels in a video game leading up to the final showdown. Predictable elements in the storytelling dilute the momentum in parts.
Screen Performances
Sri Murali’s physique, intense screen presence, and effortless action sequences make him the perfect Bagheera. Rukmini Vasanth as Dr. Sneha has the charm but her role has very limited scope. Prakash Raj is effective as the CBI officer, though we have seen him in such roles a million times. Garuda Ram as Rana is ruthless, intimidating, and an absolute powerhouse.
Overall opinion
Bagheera is an action-packed entertainer that takes on weighty issues like corruption, human trafficking, and organ rackets with a superhero spin. If you’re expecting a gripping, depth-filled story, you might feel let down. But if heart-pounding action is your thing, grab your popcorn and your remote!
Our rating
