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India Today
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Junior review: Kireeti Reddy's film is a jack of all but king of none
When one thinks of a commercial entertainer, what comes to mind? A connecting plotline, a strong yet charming protagonist, a little love story, lots of singing and dancing, action sequences to spice things up, an occasion to rise up to, and loads of drama with a dash of twists. When these aspects are mixed in the right proportions, the organic chemical reaction concocts an entertaining and directed by Radha Krishna Reddy, 'Junior', starring debutant Kireeti Reddy in the lead alongside Sreeleela, Genelia Deshmukh and V Ravichandran, has all the aspects of a commercial entertainer mentioned above. However, finding the right balance between all of them is where the sweet spot lies. Has the team managed to hit the right spot? Let's find out!Abhi, short for Abhinav (Kireeti), enters college as a junior, running away from his father Kodanda's (Ravichandran) unconditional - and sometimes overwhelming - love. While Abhi's way of living life gets established through his friends narrating their college experiences, the real story begins when Abhi joins an internship at a Fortune 500 company, following his college romance, Spoorthy (Sreeleela). Vijaya (Genelia) is a terrifying authoritative figure at the company, and Abhi gets in her crosshairs from the very first moment of his journey there. In an attempt to showcase his talents to her, Abhi, while working on a project, uncovers a scam that the company has been party to. What happens when Abhi discloses this information? What actions does the company take to resolve the issue? How many more elements will this film add to its narrative? The answers to these questions - and more - make up the plot of the film.'Junior' is an entertainer, but only in parts. The film is packed with familiar emotional beats - echoes of 'Ranna' or 'Attarintiki Daredi' and 'Murari' can be felt in its family sentiments and the college drama, including the so-called romantic angle with Sreeleela, which is presented in a hashed-out template that is anything but new. While these tropes are used effectively to push the story forward, the film struggles with inconsistencies that bring a noticeable lag to the Radha Krishna Reddy seems to lose grip on his storytelling at regular intervals, resulting in a product that feels uneven and occasionally disjointed. The biggest let-down, however, comes in the climax - what should have been a high point of resolution ends up being underwhelming and anticlimactic, leaving behind a sense of dissatisfaction despite the film's scattered moments of charm.'Junior' has a launch vehicle written all over it, and debutant Kireeti makes the most of the opportunity. He showcases a wide range of talents, bringing a certain swag and almost ballet-like grace to his movements on screen. With this film, the industry has clearly found another exceptional dancer and his athleticism also allows him to pull off complex action choreography with surprising ease and the trailer here: In 'Junior', there are some moments where Kireeti's performance is absolutely flat, evidently struggling to match expressions with his experienced co-actors. While his inexperience and lack of commanding screen presence are hard to miss, what stands out is the visible growth in his performance, even within the same film. His noticeable improvement in acting proficiency from one scene to another speaks of his promising either due to the spike in her career or a packed shooting schedule, virtually disappears from the narrative post-interval, only to return for the dream sequence dance number 'Viral Vayari'. Genelia Deshmukh, on the other hand, makes a solid comeback to South Indian cinema with a neatly written role, delivering a composed and impactful performance. Veteran Kannada actor V Ravichandran serves as the emotional anchor of the film, and he brings both warmth and gravitas to the screen, doing full justice to his meaty technical crew of 'Junior' generated considerable buzz ahead of release, boasting top industry names like KK Senthil Kumar handling cinematography, Devi Sri Prasad composing the music, and several other seasoned technicians onboard. However, the output remains strictly average. While the technical aspects do blend with the narrative and serve the film adequately, they lack the spark or innovation one would expect from such a 'Junior' is a mixed bag - an ambitious launchpad that ticks all the boxes of a commercial entertainer but struggles to strike the right balance. It shines in parts, particularly in showcasing Kireeti's potential as a performer, but falters with an inconsistent narrative and underwhelming technical execution. Backed by familiar emotional beats and scattered moments of charm, the film offers a passable theatrical experience, though it never quite rises above the template it so heavily relies on.- Ends2.5 stars out of 5 for 'Junior'
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Time of India
Govt takes steps to include Shravanabelagola in World Heritage List
Hassan: Tourism minister HK Patil on Wednesday said the state govt has taken necessary steps to include the world-renowned Shravanabelagola, which boasts thousands of years of history and ancient historical recognition, in the World Heritage List. He was speaking after the inauguration of the Ayyo Siddha Varsha Yoga Chaturmas Mangala Kalasha installation ceremony at the Digambara Math in Shravanabelagola. This holy place, home to Bahubali, which conveys messages of sacrifice, restraint, peace, and detachment, is a model for the world, he said. The minister said the colourful paintings on the walls inside the Jain Mutt, which are 1,000 years old, are beautiful. He instructed the department officials to preserve their artistic composition. The local leaders, including MLA CN Balakrishna, are planning for the Mahamastakabhisheka in 2030, and they assured that they would support the event. He recalled the invaluable contributions of Jain poets to Kannada literature, including Pampa, Ranna, Ponna, and Janna Nayasenara, and praised the exceptional contribution of Daan Chintamani Attimabbe to Ranna's growth. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo The minister said the govt is ready to provide a rope way to connect Vindhyagiri Bahubali Hill and Chandragiri Hill and will resolve technical issues as soon as possible. Minister D Sudhakar said that the Congress govt provided financial assistance for the comprehensive development of the area. He announced a grant of Rs 2 crore for the newly constructed stone Chamundaraya Sabha Mantapa next to Shri Jain Mutt. He expressed happiness at the sight of the ascetics in this non-violent region. Abhinava Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swami, head of the Jain mutt, said 39 ascetics are observing Chaturmasya vows this time, which will enhance the influence of dharma. He said that during the four months of Chaturmasya, there will be the study of divine teachings for devotees, and they will be in the presence of sages. MLA CN Balakrishna requested Union govt to bring the PRASHAD scheme to Shravanabelagola, similar to Mysuru's Chamundi Hill and Savadatti. Sujit Nayan, superintendent of archaeological department, said there are 129 protected monuments in the Bengaluru region, and their preservation work is ongoing. He assured all kinds of support for the area.
