Shivaji Surathkal

The good thing about this film is it's a Kannada film without those shameless, depressing, overrated, simply painful mass dialogues that is probably a whistling moment for everyone in Mandya. This one is a good film (meaning it has a strong storyline) but there is a BUT.

As for the film in whole, it was a good attempt barring the songs. The thriller stays a few minutes ahead of 2 hours which is great. The acting is good by everyone. The story is an Agatha Christie. If Writer-Director Akash Srivatsa brings in another case for Shivaji thus making another film with the same actor, Ramesh, in the lead, then there will be a problem in the writing. The character Shivaji works in this film (badly) because he has more than just a case to solve. He has to solve himself, i.e., his past. But if there is another case (another film), there's nothing within him that has an arc. His character is flawless which itself is bad writing.

Shivaji is loud in the beginning, boasting with his keen observing nature and a show of anger which I couldn't digest as it looked fake. But everything changes as the film goes on. This is not character arc. This is writer forgetting what he wrote about the characteristics of Shivaji. Shame. A murder and just 2 people sent to investigate. The cliche pattern for any Kannada thriller nowadays is bring in the ghosts and prove it was a human. Remember 'Shh..' by Upendra? Remember the glamorously and extravagantly shot but loop holes filled 'Rangitaranga'? This film is the same but by twirling the juices of one of Agatha's story.

I subscribed to Zee5 just to watch this film and mind you, the film is not bad. Am complaining because this is good and that's why I am seeking perfection. It's a good family watch. Worth two hours of your time (fast forward the songs). And lastly, all's well that ends well. This one does.

Brilliant writing and screenplay. Story and the making keeps us engaged throughout the movie. Acting is sub-par.

Genuinely the writer had given his best possible attempt (and succeeded) in adapting the story-line of "murder in the orient express" and added desi-elements to make it a proper sandalwood experience. Definitely everything worked except the casting and acting which wasn't bad but didn't felt very clever (or didn't matched the standards of the writing).

The songs kill the movie. Otherwise a great movie. The graphics on the pigeons are very fake. Like a early 2000 video game. The dead pigeons were really badly made. There was too much focus on the detective. They could have made the hotel a little more dingy would have put some fear in audience.

Movie could have been a good one, only if they didn't try to imbibe Sherlock Holmes' quality and behaviors into the protagonist.

Actor Ramesh Aravind does a very commendable job. The character Shivaji Suratkal is written based on the character of Sherlock Holmes. The screenplay is quite gripping with past and present timeline moving parallel and the intersect at the climax.