Navagraha Movie Review
(2.5/5) Navagraha Darshana!
Navagraha Movie Review By Raju Shanbhag
If you make a list of Kannada film directors who can attempt something remotely different from the run of the mill stuff, Dinakar Toogudeep may never make it to your list. But in spite of all of your reservations, here is Dinakar Toogudeep, trying something refreshingly different among the films that show either weeping lovers or screaming rowdies. So, in spite of all its fallacies and limitations, Navagraha offers you a pleasant surprise.
The film opens on an unholy note where a typical Sheikh of Kannada films and a few more cheaply rented foreigners discuss lifting the golden howdah (Ambari) of the Mysore palace as lightly as they are discussing which Darshan movie to see that afternoon. But things spice up soon after as Darshan and co loot a bank vehicle full of cash with the help of modern technology and director Dinakar Thoogudeep. But hold on chaps; Darshan, the big man is born for bigger things in life. He takes up a contract to steal the golden howdah of the Mysore palace and recruits some more people who share the same vision about life as him.
And bingo, we have the story on its tracks!
The pessimists may find a million loopholes in the story and they will be spot on every time. But what the heck, Dinakar Toogudeep and Darshan deserve a pat on their backs for just trying something different. Dinakar Toogudeep is no Steven Spielberg and Navagraha is nowhere remotely near films like Indiana Jones. But within the limitations of Darshan’s fan base and Dinakar Toogudeep’s directorial talents, Navagraha wouldn’t rob you of your hard earned money. Be assured.
After his first film as a director (jothe jotheyali) Dinakar Toogudeep plans big both in terms of story and the execution. He cannot help but fill the film with typical elements of Darshan film. Some needless fights, some tapori language and that hilarious scene (it’s not supposed to be) in the end when the howdah is hooked to a helicopter and taken back to Mysore while it hangs in midair!
But while you may scoff at the inefficiencies of the script, Dinakar Toogudeep also tries some things that make you wish best of luck for the man in his future endeavors. To start with, he gives Darshan a completely negative role. Kudos to Darshan for having accepted such a role, which no other established hero in Kannada would have accepted. While any other hero in Kannada would have filled the screen with his own images in a movie produced by his home production, Darshan gives ample opportunity for other newcomers to show their acting talents. Picture this; Darshan doesn’t have a single duet with his heroine in this entire film!
As publicized earlier, the film stars 9 actors who are the sons of former great villains of Kannada screen. While this in itself doesn’t add or take away anything from the film, these guys are ok in their acting; though they have miles to go before they match their illustrious fathers. Others like Saurav (the inspector), Sharmila Mandre and Varsha do justice to their roles.
Before you book your tickets for the movie, remember that in spite of all its uniqueness, it has all the trappings of a typical Darshan movie. Of course, if you like those kind of movies, you will have one hell of a time. Keep it up Dinakar and Darshan!
I had totally underestimated the movie when the review said that it had the usual trappings of a darshan movie. That was completely wrong. There was no machoo, no mindless violence, no badly chooregraphed songs.
It was a complete delight from scene one to the end except for the helicopter scene. But lets give the director a credit. Some say t s inspired by Ocean 11 and Reservior Dogs. I say it is not. Those kind of movies r there since a long time and they are known as film noir. This belongs to that genre and in the second half, felt like reading a James Hadley Chase Novel.
Director had a good idea to promote the movie by casting the sons of yesteryears villains.
Looking forward for your next venture.
this is really a good movie and ever made in kannada screen..
its very happy to take the different pole by CHALLENGING STAR DARSHAN..
Hats off all the 9 heroes, director, stunt master, cinematographer and Tugudeepa productions……
I think its inspired by Hollywood movie Ocean’s Eleven…
In ‘OE’ there are eleven guys…but in Navagraha, there are 9…
hi everybody,…… this movie s really somewat amazing… i saw twice… ma darshan acting s v nice… different acting.. like villan.. superb movie….
Navagraha was a good movie. They have kept to the story line. it is brisk .a non messy ending and thank god no anti climax. All have acted well. A different movie
I saw this movie yest, i feel most of the negative responses and reviews given here is quite baseless and incorrect. The movie is worth every rupee, and one of the best thrillers in kannada movie in recent times, yes this movie is insired from the hollywood movie “Reservoir Dogs” (Bollywood had made a remake of the same movie and named it “Kaante”).!
I guess some of the reviewers here are just out to bad mouth the quality movies the Gandhi Nagar is churning out these days.
Go watch the movie, its good, i would give it 3.5 out of 5!
Give Darshan and Dinakar credit, this movie is fully worth the money you would spend on tickets. For the first time in recent times, in Kannada, a director has chosen to go beyond Macchu/Longu and/or Boy-meets-Girl-parents-oppose-finally marry rubbish! What’s wrong with the Kannada spoken in the film?? There is no obscene language used, no item songs, and the movie is Very clean. The casting is very good, and Darshan shines in a negative role. Given the loads of mindless trash that is passed off as “family cinema” in Kannada these days, this is one movie that can truly be watched by the family, reservoir dogs or not.
To answer all the critics and make my self clear on the issues here, the review written by me is to inform others about the fact that this is not a movie with a higher expectation. and one of the reviewer has told about it. nothing is there to be elaborated. The kannada spoken apart from inspector is terrible and the same with the new comer (cadbury hero). It is obvious that this is an experiment which has been never tried recently, we have to appauld dinakar for it . Infact i am dissapointed with the whole story how it is handled, yes agreed it is taken from kaante or reservoir dogs or whatever, he should have taken care to reduce to relevent to sandalwood.
Mr. Prashanth, for ur information Kaante is copied from Reservoir Dogs
Hi All,
The major mistake we do before going to watch a kannada movie is to check for the review. Please do not go by the review .. The movie is not worth to be watched. ..Its an average movie and the story is derived from Kaante a hindi movie and there is no grip on the dialogues or the scenes. .. apart from fights and two songs nothing is there to worth a watch.
This movie definitely deserves 3 stars.Darshan and Dinakar need to appreciated for their unique attempt in kannada industry.I liked the movie very much.Within kannada industry’s constraints ,they have tried an exciting new concept!!!!complete paisa vasool….. nobody can please “EVERYONE”.Even the gr8 “MUNGAARU MALE” had got average ratings by some critics in the beginning.After its stupendous success,they had to eat their own words…..All-In-All its a gr8 movie…..Keep it up….Thoogudeep Duo!!!!!!!
Very unique Movie.People ask for new scripts,different movies.when something really different is given to them they dont watch it.They find some or the other faults and reject it.Even the media doesnt appreciate a worthy effort Its a pity.Every film is not made inch perfect.Though there are some glitches in this movie its worth watching.If u cant receive these type of films then dont ask for ‘different movie’ ‘different movie’.
i saw this movie bcoz of Director ………not very gud movie ….its boring …..darshan n vinod prabhakar acting was too gud ….. after i seen this movie i thought darshan villan role ae madkondu hodre thumba name n fame baruthe ankothini n bollywood indha n bere bere kade indha offers kuda baruthe ….kannada dha huduga belithidhane annno kushi namgu baruthe ……..
this is one of the best kannada movie in recent time the idea is great and logic is good