Dargon Movie Review: Actor-director Pradeep Ranganathan, who impressed both Tamil and Telugu audiences with 'Love Today', is now coming to the audience with the film 'Return of the Dragon', directed by 'Ori Devuda' director Ashwath Marimuthu. 'Return of the Dragon', which aroused interest in the audience with its entertaining promos, did it impress as a movie? Let's find out.
Dragon Movie Story:
D. Raghavan (Pradeep Ranganathan) is a boy who passed his twelfth standard with 96 percent marks. However, when he proposes to the girl he likes after completing his intermediate, she leaves, saying that she prefers a different boy in three subjects. With this, Raghavan completely changes his behavior style in engineering and becomes a hooligan, thinking that girls like naughty guys more than smart guys. He also changes his name to 'Dragon'.
His following in college increases. He also finds a girlfriend. But by the time he completes engineering, Raghavan is left as a failure with all his subjects pending. After some time, life suddenly turns upside down. The woman he loved moves away. What did Raghavan do to survive in this situation.. What challenges did he face in this process.. How did he overcome them.. is the rest of the story.
Dragon Movie Analysis:
Making a film based on a problem that is affecting the society is not an easy task. If you explain the problem in detail.. If you want to relax and go to the cinema, the audience will say that this is bad. If the dose of entertainment is too much, the 'problem' gets diluted.
Balancing these two and making the stories strong is a big task. It is not possible for everyone. But Ashwath Marimuthu, who made a strong impression as a writer-director with the film 'Oh My Kadavule' (Ori Devuda in Telugu), successfully completed this task in 'Return of the Dragon'.
The origin of this story is that the hero cheats with a fake degree and gets a job. The director has shown the impact of this very effectively. But there are no lectures on it. There are no long scenes. Still, the subject touches the hearts of the audience strongly.
That is not to say that this is a film made just to give a message. There is no harm in the entertainment that the youth wants. It runs like a youth-filled film. It is a film that conveys a strong message while entertaining.
Even though big stars were interested in doing a film with him after the super hit 'Oh My Kadavule', the reason why director Ashwath Marimuthu chose 'Love Today' hero Pradeep Ranganathan as the hero for this film can be understood only after watching the film. This seems like a story that only Pradeep could do.
After watching 'Love Today', one gets the feeling that he wrote this story for himself. When you see Pradeep's character in this film up to a point, you feel very bored. But towards the end, you feel a sense of admiration for the same character. Pradeep has shown this evolution very well on screen through his performance.
It is natural for the audience to get irritated when they see characters who behave irresponsibly.. and bother everyone on screen. When you see such a person on screen, you feel like dragging him and hitting him. But when you finally feel like taking the same person close and touching him.. it is as if the change in that character has been shown very effectively. That's the special thing about 'Return of the Dragon'.
The fact that the girl doesn't like him if he's smart in intermediate.. Although it seems a bit silly for the hero to become a hooligan in engineering.. this story shows that convincingly. As long as the hero is behaving irresponsibly, 'Dragon' seems a bit boring. But when his life takes a new path, the story gains momentum.
Although the hero's growth seems a bit cinematic, it doesn't seem that much of a problem. If everything is going well in the hero's life and is going on without any problems, then what else is there to say in this story? But that's where the director takes a good turn in the story. The hero, who has achieved a good level in his job and is ready to get married, has to go to college again and clear all the failed subjects.. the drama that has been created around this seems good.
All this reminds me of Nani's movie Pilla Zamindar to some extent. But this is what makes it special. Although, predictably, the hero will achieve what he wants in the end.. The director has entertained the audience by leading this track with good entertainment. The twist in the story at the end is interesting.
The film, which is more than two hours long, takes an emotional route at the end. Ashwath has done the comedy as well as he has done the emotional scenes effectively. The scene where the hero gets shaken after knowing how big a mistake he has made also moves the audience. The problem discussed by the director in this film makes the audience think at that stage.
The climax scenes are heartwarming. In the end, the director makes a connection with the movie 'Love Today' and brings smiles to the faces of the audience. Although 'Return of the Dragon' is a bit of a hassle until takeoff.. after that, it gives a good feeling to the audience by balancing both comedy and emotions properly. This film, which is very popular with the youth, will satisfy everyone else.
Actors Performance:
At the beginning of the movie 'Love Today', if you see Pradeep Ranganathan, he seems like a hero. But by the end, you become a fan of him. The same is true in 'Return of the Dragon'. Initially, his character.. his looks.. acting seem a bit awkward. But after seeing the transformation in that character.. Pradeep's acting in it, the whole opinion changes.
In some scenes, Pradeep's performance seems crazy. Especially when he knows that he has passed, his gestures.. the theater is in a frenzy with his screams. There are some shades of Dhanush in Pradeep's acting.
Anupama Parameswaran has shown her uniqueness with a short screen time. She stood out in this movie. Kayadhu Lohar is good to watch. She was impressed with her glamour. The performance is okay. Director Mysskin did a good job in the key role that turned the story around. George Marian of 'Khaidi' fame plays the hero's father and is heartwarming. The actor who plays the role of Chhota Dragon is impressive. All the other artists are okay.
Technical category:
The technical departments have done a good job in 'Return of the Dragon'. Leon James has given songs that are fun to listen to. There are no chartbuster songs but.. the songs in the movie are good. The breakup song is pleasant to listen to. The background music is the same. The cinematography by Telugu Niketh Bommireddy is also impressive. The production values are good.
Ashwath Marimuthu.. After 'Oh My Kadavule', he has once again impressed as a writer-director. There is no crazy concept like 'Oh My Kadavule' in this but.. he has taken a problem that most people can relate to.. and entertainingly told the story. He mostly ran the film as a comedy and also gave an emotional touch at the end. Not only Ashwath's writing but also Theeta gets good marks. Rating- 2.75/5