Murphy

Murphy (2024), directed by BSP Varma, is a beautifully crafted emotional drama that strikes a chord with anyone who values deep human connections. The film's central theme-an exploration of family, love, and the weight of time-offers a touching narrative that reflects on the complexities of relationships.

From the outset, I was captivated by the story's unique use of a radio as a metaphor for connection across time. It wasn't just a plot device but a symbol of the emotional wavelengths that bind us to our past and loved ones. Prabhu Mundkur's performance as the protagonist stands out, with his quiet yet powerful portrayal of a man navigating both nostalgia and present-day realities. Roshni Prakash's role complements his performance perfectly, adding layers of warmth and introspection.

The film's cinematography elevates its emotional depth, capturing the beauty of everyday life while weaving in moments of almost magical realism. The pacing, while deliberate, allows the story's emotional weight to sink in, particularly during key scenes where time travel is hinted at, offering viewers an allegory for the timelessness of love and memories.

If you're drawn to stories that are rich in sentiment but not overly sentimental, Murphy offers an immersive experience that resonates long after the credits roll. It's a must-watch for anyone who enjoys introspective films with a touch of magic.

It's a great script and the movie is very well written on the page. From my perspective, the execution isn't as good. For example, I didn't feel the 1996 era and Janani still looked younger at the climax .

There was a possibility the director could have used artificial intelligence , how Janani would look at the age 50 +, and had her make up that way... that would have been better ....... The visuals are very good...appreciated .

I wish the movie had more impactful background scores that added a magical touch throughout. Perhaps budget constraints played a role (not sure), but these aspects could have been improved: 1. The background music (BGM) overall 2. The depiction of the 1996 timeline difference 3. Janani's appearance in the climax Enhancing these elements might have elevated the movie into the ranks of the industry's best.

ALL THE BEST FOR ENTIRE TEAM........CREATE ANOTHER GOOD STORY JONRA THAT KANNADA NOT YET EXPLORED.......

Synopsis: Emotional drama, "Murphy", weaves together a tale of love, loss, and relationships through the intriguing lens of time travel. It is about the journey of the protagonist, Prabhu Mundkur as David (Son) and Joe (Father) across timelines to unfold the deeper meanings hidden in his emotional experiences, with Roshini Prakash as Janani playing the role of his fellow traveller in the dimension of time.

However, it is the radio doctor Ramprasad Banvara played by Ram Manjjonaath who tries hard to revive an age old radio which is a priceless belonging of Richie (Dattanna) and acts as a bridge between the characters across timelines as the story progresses . His comments on timetravel sets the film's tone and the mood in its opening sequence.

Story In essence, "Murphy" is a sacrifice and love saga. The element of timetravel enables the lead characters to relive moments that shaped their lives and gives them yet another chance to make different choices to witness how their life turns out.

The plot neatly balances the aspects of a son's deep affection towards father, (which in my humble opinion could be seen revealing director BSP Varma's vision backed by personal experience). Strong emotions of romance, disappointment and introspection leave the viewer pondering the nature of destiny and free will.

Cinematography: The cinematography of the film is picturesque. Quite noticeably, different timelines are told through nuances in contrasts of color palettes: warm hues expressing moments of love and joy; cooler tones for those scenes of loss and sorrow. Adarsh's handling of lighting, coupled with intelligent camera movements and the wide angled drone shots narrate the emotional voyage of the protagonists so well that almost every internal struggle of the protagonists can be felt by the viewer.

Dialogue : The dialogues between David , Janani and Janani - Joe are poetic and reflective ; furthering the depth and details in characters. Philosophical musings, heartbreaking confessions-all have found a place in conversations between David and Janani and further, Richie. Simplicity and predictability in conversation give access to the film's themes without undermining its core.

Acting: Performances in "Murphy" are neat and tidy. Especially that of the lead actors Prabhu, Roshini and Dattanna who bring subtlety and depth to their roles.

Prabhu makes the viewer feel his characters highs and lows. Equally complementing is the supporting cast and adds authenticity to their roles, further bringing emotion in the narrative.

Editing: Mahesh Thogata's editing is one of the highlights of this movie. It effectively transitions between different timelines and emotional states, maintaining the smoothness in the flow of time, which keeps the viewer engaged and invested in the story. The precision of the cuts and the transitions enhance the pacing of the film, though few melodramatic sequences could've been trimmed to make things more engaging.

Use of Time Travel : In "Murphy", time travel is more than just a narrative device; it is a metaphor for the journey that its protagonists, David and Janani undertake in their quest to understand life and find closure. Although, the use of a transistor (Radio) to communicate two-way asynchronously with time difference is a far possibility , this lack of credible scientific element does not hinder the overall cinematic experience if seen as a creative expression.

Every scene of David and Janani across timeline peels a layer about their characters and the complexities of their relationships and their shared experiences with other characters like Janani's love interest Joe ( Prabhu Mundkur) , David's grandfather Richie (Dattanna) and David's love interest Jessy and his friends. Time travel is used to chart several concepts-regret, redemption, and the eternal power of love.

VFX and Sound design: Both these departments need a special mention.

Conclusion: "Murphy" is a singular film that combines the time-travel narrative with essential resounding universal emotions of love, loss and sacrifice.

With its simple storyline, beautiful cinematography, poetic dialogue, and neat acting, the movie is sure to remain endearing for those who like emotionally deep films with pictorial telling, stimulating reflection over one's own life choices and time passing by.

Joe Murphy wants to gift his dad the precious radio post-repair but on the way home, he meets with an accident. Years later in 2024, his son David has been raised by his grandfather who is still attached to the radio and David wants to repair it as a surprise. He falters in it and soon, gets a bigger surprise when a cross connection happens in the radio transmission to a person named Janani in 1996. As they bond over their radio conversation, he realizes there is still chance to change the past and Janani being the key. How do they learn the laws of physics when it comes to Love in this process, forms rest of the story.

Murphy joins the list of beautifully shot Kannada films this year and is aided by some beautifully written lines. The drama which uses time travel as a plot point is all about good vibes and the director has a firm grip on the film's tonality which doesn't change from start to finish. However, the screenplay remains quite predictable and there is no surprise in the store. This at times does feel dragged and one wishes to have made a better balance between both the love stories - 1996 and 2024, rather than solely focusing on 1996. It is still a good attempt and I definitely don't want to run it down because of the predictability.

So well made!

This kinda time travel movie has never been done before in Sandalwood. And it's so masterfully crafted too. No loose ends. No paradoxes. No Deus ex machinas.

Just pure logical sci-fi. Top notch acting by the leads and Dattanna as well.

And we had the honor of interacting with the cast and crew after the movie screening which was a cherry on top. (Orion Mall, Rajajinagar)

It feels low-key inspired by "The Butterfly Effect" movie where a smallest of the small things affect bigger things. But cannot remember any other movie doing this concept in KFI. A pinnacle of experimental movies.