Cast: Yash, Srinidhi Shetty, Ayyapa, B Suresh, Srinivas Murthy, Archana Jois, Roopa Rayappa, Master Anmol, Ananth Nagu, Malavika & many others
Cinematography: Bhuvan Gowda
Music: Ravi Basrur
Art Director: Shiva Kumar
Editor: KS Srikanth
Directed by: Prashanth Neel
Produced by: Hombale Films
Release Date: 21-12-2018
Run Time: 02:36:00
KGF, directed by Prashanth Neel, is an ambitious attempt from the Kannada film industry despite its over-indulgent storytelling. The lead role played by Yash shoulders the film than anyone else in this crime action drama which is set in various backdrops like Mumbai, Bangalore and the ominous-looking Kolar Gold Field.
Although Prashanth Neel chooses to engage audiences through style over substance, the film occasionally manages to captivate with his gritty filmmaking and intensely staged scenes, which are elevated by a rousing background score. Rocky as the most deadly gangster perfectly fits the bill and has churned out a passionate performance.
After being promoted heavily as a pan-Indian film on the lines of Baahubali, what KGF offers viewers is slightly disappointing. The first half of the film establishes Rocky’s role as a powerful don in Mumbai and his childhood days. The seaside visuals of Mumbai are captured beautifully in all its glory by cinematographer Bhuvan Gowda. The story lacks life in the first half and it becomes a tad difficult to invest in the characters, who look mostly alien.
Yash lives his role as Rocky to the fullest and has done complete justice to the character. The sequences in Bangalore are superbly shot, and when the story makes headway towards the KGF, the narration picks up steam gradually. Prashanth Neel has come up with a grandly shot climax sequence, which will definitely impress viewers and leave a mark.
Verdict: Over-indulgent but ambitious