Lakshminarayana Malgudi, a 65 year-old celebrated author who announces his retirement from writing, is at a crossroads in his life. He meets a young girl named Prakruthi, who quits her job and is confused about her next step in life. What happens when they meet & decide to take a road trip together to the beautiful Malnad region of Karnataka? The journey unwinds quite interestingly as we are shown the writer's connection with Malgudi Days.
The film explores the heart warming human relationships that are formed eventually as the time goes by. It also tries to show how the emotions change either due to slight misunderstandings or inane reasons. At another end it takes you down the memory lane where one can reminsce the school memories and endure on a trip of nostalgia! It is similar to the sequence shown in last year's Kannada movie '99' which was also pictured in the beautiful town of Thirtahalli.
The screenplay is decent enough to keep you entertained throughout the end along with a good storyline. However the film feels a bit lengthy as it nears the ending. There are also some inconsistencies in the acting by the newcomers in the film which add to the negatives. The cinematography and music is decently done. The editing could have been better.
There are some issues when it comes to the casting of the film. In the part where the school days are shown, the teacher's role is played by a very young girl. She looks more like a school girl when compared to her students, exactly like those cute kids enacting adult roles in the last year's Kannada film Girmit!
Vijay Raghavendra has given one of his best performances in the movie and he carries the prosthetic looks of a 65 year old quite well. Although the makeup looks a bit unrealistic, the efforts of the film team are laudable. Tulunaada Chakravarti Arjun Kapikad also impresses in his role while Greeshma Sridhar gives a fair performance.
Overall, this movie has its strengths in some parts but falls through in other parts. Nevertheless it does turn out to be a decent one time watch with quite a good amalgamation of relationships & nostalgia!
