On the Road Review: Surya Lakkoju's road thriller has great visuals but limited thrills

On the Road Review: Surya Lakkoju's road thriller has fresh faces, gorgeous frames but with uneven thrills that click only here and there

On the Road review

On the Road Story

Shruti(Swati Mehra) and Rohan embark on a trip to Ladakh to mark their second wedding anniversary. Their romantic getaway takes an unexpected turn when Shruti’s former lover, Varun, unexpectedly reappears during the journey. Though he has built a thriving life in Canada, it becomes evident that Varun still carries feelings for Shruti. As Rohan begins to sense an emotional shift between his wife and her ex, the couple face some external forces creating even bigger tensions. How does the couple come out of these tensions is the basic story of the film.

On the Road Review:

On the Road has been written and directed by Suryah Lakkoju and is an independent Telugu film featuring mostly English dialogues. Set against the scenic backdrop of Ladakh, the film offers solid thrills and stunning visuals. The way director Suryah sets up the story seems straightforward at first, but the way the thriller unfolds later is one of its strongest aspects.

Despite featuring newcomers, the film feels fresh and is narrated engagingly for the most part. The story of the three main leads is simple, but their emotional journeys are depicted neatly. The way the ex-lover enters the picture and changes the couple’s dynamic is handled well in the first half.

One could say that On the Road starts as an erotic thriller and later transforms into an action-packed drama. Since the story is set in a relatively unfamiliar region, the cryptic behavior of the antagonists adds intrigue. However, the thrills in the first half don’t create a strong impact.

The film’s biggest strengths are its theme and backdrop. Thanks to the striking visuals, viewers experience a refreshing perspective on the thriller genre, occasionally reminiscent of Ram Gopal Varma’s style. Though the first half doesn’t engage much, the director ensures that the second half is packed with action and drama. What begins as a romantic thriller turns into a full-fledged suspense film with solid chase sequences and tense moments.

The portrayal of the villains is stylish, and the survival elements keep you hooked. That said, a more recognizable cast could have elevated the film further. Coming to the performances, Swati Mehra shines as the female lead and looks stunning on screen.

Leads Karan Sastri and Ravi Singh fit their parts well, giving the film an international feel. As mentioned earlier, Gifty Mehra’s cinematography is one of the biggest highlights and adds to the film’s appeal on the big screen. Surbhit Manocha and Naveen Kumar’s background score is impressive, while the editing is decent, though the screenplay feels predictable.

Road thrillers tend to follow similar patterns, and there’s nothing particularly new in On the Road. Yet, the well-executed key moments in the second half—supported by strong visuals, make it a worthwhile watch.

On the Road Verdict

On the whole, On the Road is a road thriller that has a few decent moments going its way. Though it starts as a romantic thriller, things change in the second half as well executed thrills take center stage and manage to impress in bits and pieces.

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FAQs

Q. Who is the director of the road thriller, On the Road?

A. Suryah Lakkoju has written and directed the film in Telugu

Q. Who are the main leads in On the Road?

A. The film has Swati Mehra, Karn Shastri, and Raghav Tiwari in lead roles.

Q. What is the story of On the Road?

A. On the Road is a romantic thriller about a couple and an ex who disrupts the latter's anniversary in Ladakh making up for an action packed drama

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