'Muddu Manase' review: Arun Gowda's debut is far from convincing

Film: Muddu Manase
Rating: **1/2
Starring: Arun Gowda, Aishwarya Nag, Nithya Ram, Padmaja Rao, Achuth
Director: Ananth Shain

What it's about: Muddu Manase opens with a daredevil bride running away on a scooter from a marriage hall, asking her lover to accompany her. She does not know what's in store for her. Her other lover Rocky is waiting with his friends on the road, not with a garland or a bouquet but with iron rods and hockey sticks. As expected, Rocky’s goons attack the lovers and help him take away his sweetheart. Suresh alias Suri (Arun Gowda) appears out of nowhere and attacks the goons, hitting Rocky to an extent that the latter loses his memory. 

The scene shifts to another location where Mona (Aishwarya Nag) is acting like a drunkard. It is revealed that Suri is a distant relative of Mona’s parents who gave him shelter after he lost his mother. We find that Suri was in love with Purvi (Nithya Ram), the daughter of a police inspector. The couples tries to escape when Purvi's father arranges her marriage with another person. How does Suri find Purvi? What happens to her? What happens to Suri and Mona? This forms the rest of the story.  

What’s hot: While this is his debut film in Sandalwood (the Kannada film industry), Arun Gowda has put in a lot of effort to prove his mettle in action scenes. Aishwarya Nag looks good. Nithya Ram has to go a long way to establish herself as an actress in this industry. Some of the dialogues, especially those between the two sisters, are good. Two songs, 'Thinthale thinthale' and 'Neev kelabaradu ', are okay.

What’s not: It is in the romantic scenes that Arun Gowda struggles a lot and comes off as stoic.​ The main disadvantage of the film is its lack of glamour and humour. Some of the scenes, especially those where heroine (Aishwarya Nag) encounters goondas, are far from convincing.

What to do: ​Consider this film only if you have no other ways to spend your weekend and valuable time.