Mowgli Review: Bandi Saroj Kumar stands tall in an otherwise dull and weak film

Mowgli Story

Mowgli (Roshan Kanakala) is an orphan whose only dream is to become a police officer. One fine day, a film crew lands in his village for a shoot, and Mowgli joins them as a dupe. There, he sets eyes on Jasmine (Sakshi Mhadolkar), a mute girl. The couple slowly start getting close to each other. During this time, the film's producer sets his eyes on Jasmine, and Mowgli saves her. When the couple think they are out of danger, a crazy cop named Christopher Nolan (Bandi Saroj Kumar) goes after Jasmine. How Mowgli saves his girl is the basic story.

Mowgli Review

Mowgli is written and directed by Sandeep Raj, who last made the award-winning film Colour Photo (now streaming on OTTplay Premium). He was supposed to make a film with Ravi Teja, but that did not happen, and after a five-year break, he is back with Mowgli. 

So much was expected of Sandeep, who is known for his content in recent OTT releases like AIR (now streaming on OTTplay Premium). Well, Sandeep Raj fails to live up to all the hype created around the film, as he delivers a very dull product which does not have anything going its way. 

Right from the story to its narrative, everything is so routine that one starts thinking about what made Sandeep choose such a story in the first place.

Generally, when you pen a love story, either the casting should be top-notch, or the songs should be great. But here, nothing works, as the narrative is weak and the emotions are forced to another level. 

There is hardly any engagement in the film after it starts on a thumping note through the character of Bandi Saroj Kumar, the main villain. But once that is done, things go downhill and nothing works. 

One of the biggest drawbacks of the film is the predictability factor. There is nothing that keeps the audience engaged, barring a small twist. The rest has all been kept mundane.

The emotions go for a massive toss as the director forces scenes that were not necessary at all. This makes things boring in the film and takes Mowgli down in no time. In his debut film, Sandeep Raj also penned a very routine story, but his presentation was honest, and the film had great music. All that is missing here in Mowgli.

Coming to the performances, Roshan Kanakala plays the main lead and gives a sincere performance, and has improved a lot when compared to his debut film, Bubble Gum. He looks good in all the action sequences and also emotes well in the tense scenes. 

On the other hand, the female lead, Sakshi Mhadolkar, is neat in her role as a mute girl. She needed to work on her expressions, but sadly, after a point, she did not get to do much in the second half.

But it is Bandi Saroj Kumar who steals the show. Being an actor-director himself, he showcases a nuanced performance and stunts in the film. But as the narrative is weak, he does not get enough scope. Saroj is surely the find of the year and was amazing in the film. Harsha Chemudu is also good in his important role.

The music is by RRR fame Kaala Bhairava, and sadly, not a single song works. The background score was just about okay. If there is one aspect that impresses in Mowgli, it is the camerawork, as it showcases the forest region and action blocks superbly. 

The world of Mowgli has been showcased in a good way. The art department needs a special mention as the mood of the film is good. But all this is spoiled by Sandeep's immature direction. There are no standout moments in the film, as the love story walks the predictable path and does not hold your attention at any point.

Mowgli Verdict:

On the whole, Mowgli is an underwhelming romantic drama that misses its mark. Apart from Bandi Saroj Kumar's intense act, the rest fails and makes this film a mundane watch this weekend. Young actor Roshan Kanakala needs to wait longer to establish himself in the industry.

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