Home Tags Posts tagged with "R. Madhavan"

R. Madhavan

Review: Kesari Chapter 2 – Captivating historical courtroom drama

by 123telugu

Kesari Chapter 2

Movie Name : Kesari Chapter 2

Release Date : April 18, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5
Starring : Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, Ananya Panday, Regina Cassandra, and others

Director : Karan Singh Tyagi
Producers : Hiroo Yash Johar, Aruna Bhatia, Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Amritpal Singh Bindra & Anand Tiwari
Music Directors : Shashwat Sachdev, Kavita Seth–Kanishk Seth
Cinematographer : Debojeet Ray
Editor : Nitin Baid
Related Links : Trailer

Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh, the much-awaited sequel to the blockbuster Bollywood film Kesari, was released in cinemas today. Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, Kesari Chapter 2, as the title hints, promises to unveil several unknown facts behind the historic yesterday in India’s freedom struggle to the big screen. The movie stars Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday in lead roles. Dive into our review to know if this historical courtroom drama managed to engage the audience.

Story:

Set against the backdrop of the Indian independence struggle, Kesari 2’s story revolves around the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The intense courtroom chronicles through time and explores whether a particular individual was the mastermind behind this tragic event. British government advocate Shankaran Nair (Akshay Kumar) files a case against General Dyer, the tyrant who was responsible for the massacre. He is aided by young advocate Dilreet Gill (Ananya Panday), while the British advocate Neville McKinley (R. Madhavan) defends Dyer’s actions. Shankaran Nair’s pursuit of justice and how he unfolds the truth behind the Jallianwala Bagh massacre offer the audience a gripping journey through one of the most painful tragedies in India’s history.

Plus Points:

The narrative needs to be handled with accuracy when dealing with a historical event to avoid any missteps. Director Karan Singh Tyagi executed Kesari 2 brilliantly. The film showcases how tragic historical events can be effectively depicted through a courtroom drama, making a powerful and lasting impact eventually.

Akshay Kumar takes the film to the next level with his terrific portrayal of advocate Shankaran Nair. The way director Karan Singh Tyagi handled this historical tragedy through a courtroom drama is praiseworthy. The audiences feel as though some of history’s most heartbreaking moments are speaking directly to them, thanks to the arresting screenplay.

The performances by R. Madhavan and Ananya Panday shine throughout the movie with their solid performances. The key aspects highlighted to present the historical truths and their reveal on screen are impressive. The retelling of a historical tragic event through a courtroom drama succeeds in effectively captivating the audience.

Minus Points:

Despite the gripping execution, the narrative sadly suffers from a few flaws and a lethargic pace at the beginning. Director Karan Singh Tyagi took a lot of time to draw the audience into the story.

Versatile actor Madhavan could have been given more prominence. Although his character is interesting, he remains quiet during the crucial pre-climax and climax sequences. A more engaging climax could have done wonders for the movie.

Technical Aspects:

Director Karan Singh Tyagi’s choice to turn a historically significant event into a courtroom drama is commendable. The way he blended the courtroom drama format with a historical context pushes the narrative forward in an interesting manner. The background score by Sashwat Sachdev added intensity to a few crucial scenes. The solid cinematography poignantly captured the essence of the bygone era. The editing could have been a bit sharper for a far more engaging experience. The production values are good.

Verdict:

Kesari Chapter 2 succeeds in engaging the audience with its gripping narrative while meticulously blending historical events with a solid courtroom drama. The way the director presented the historical facts deserves applause. Akshay Kumar and Madhavan breathed life into their characters with power-packed performances. While a few crucial scenes may feel slow, the depth and intensity in the story keep the audience engaged. Fans of historical and courtroom dramas may surely enjoy this film.

123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team 

0 FacebookTwitterWhatsappCopy Link

OTT Review: Nayanthara, Siddharth & Madhavan’s Test – Telugu-dubbed film on Netflix

by 123telugu

Test Telugu Movie Review

Movie Name : Test

Release Date : Apr 4, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5
Starring : R. Madhavan, Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine
Director : S. Sashikanth
Producers : Chakravarthy, Ramachandra, S. Sashikanth
Music Director : Shakthisree Gopalan
Cinematographer : Viraj Singh Gohil
Editor : T. S. Suresh
Related Links : Trailer

Netflix has finally released the much-anticipated Tamil sports drama TEST, featuring Madhavan, Siddharth, and Nayanthara in the lead roles. Directed by S. Sashikanth, the film is now streaming in Telugu. Read our review to find out if it hits the mark.

Story:

Arjun Venkatraman (Siddharth) is one of India’s top cricketers, but a bad run of form leads the board to ask him to retire. He refuses to give up. Kumudha (Nayanthara), a school teacher, wants to become a mother through IVF, while her husband Saravanan (R. Madhavan), a scientist from MIT, is working hard on a project that could change India’s future. Life puts all three through a tough test. How they deal with it is what the story is all about.

Plus Points:

R. Madhavan returns with another decent performance. While he’s played heroic roles before, he truly shines in characters with a grey shade – and once again, he proves his skill in such a role. His performance is particularly more compelling in the second hour, which helps keep the viewer engaged.

Siddharth plays his part with calmness and restraint. Though his character isn’t given much to express or say, he handles it with maturity and leads the story decently.

Nayanthara, too, delivers a fair performance. While her role doesn’t stand out initially, the second half offers a small arc that adds some depth to her character.

The supporting cast performs their roles as required. Notably, child actor Lirish Rahav, who plays Aditya (Arjun’s son), brings genuine emotion to his scenes and leaves a mark.

Minus Points:

While director S. Sashikanth managed to assemble a star-studded cast, he falls short in giving them meaningful and memorable roles. The writing lacks grip from start to finish, making the film feel hollow.

For a sports drama that also touches on crime and emotion, the film lacks intensity. There isn’t a single scene that truly grabs attention or leaves a lasting impression. The emotional depth, especially in scenes involving Siddharth, could have been much better.

Veteran actor Nassar is cast in a role that adds little to the plot – a wasted opportunity. The rest of the characters, too, lack proper development and simply move along without any strong arcs.

Meera Jasmine, cast as Siddharth’s wife, is barely given any importance in the story. Madhavan’s performance is good, but the voice dubbing doesn’t quite match his natural delivery and slightly affects the impact.

Technical Aspects:

As both writer and director, S. Sashikanth misses a golden opportunity to turn this multi-starrer film into an engaging thriller. His execution lacks energy and coherence. The cinematography by Viraj Singh Gohil is visually decent in places, but it isn’t enough to lift the narrative. The music by Shakthisree Gopalan doesn’t contribute much either, and the score fails to elevate emotional or dramatic scenes.

Editing by T. S. Suresh could have been sharper – the film feels slow and stretched. A tighter cut with a runtime under two hours would have made it more suitable for OTT audiences. On a positive note, the dubbing and production values are well handled.

Verdict:

On the whole, Test features a talented cast but ends up delivering a boring film. Madhavan stands out with a fine performance, and Siddharth and Nayanthara do their parts decently. However, the film suffers from weak writing, sluggish pacing, and poor emotional impact. In the end, Test doesn’t quite pass – it tests your patience instead. Even for fans of the lead actors, this might not be the best pick for your weekend.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.5/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team 

0 FacebookTwitterWhatsappCopy Link
               
Facebook Twitter Instagram Whatsapp