When I sat down to watch the Kannada film Twenty One Hours, which was released in theaters on May 20, 2022 and later streamed on Amazon Prime Video, I was expecting a different thriller experience. Directed by Jaishankar Pandit, this Kannada-Malayalam bilingual mystery thriller starring Dhananjay, Durga Krishna, Sudeep Nair, and Rahul Madhav in the lead roles has been getting a good buzz on social media. How impressed was I by this story, which revolves around the events that take place in 21 hours after a woman disappears? Did the film hook me with suspense, or did it disappoint? Let me tell you about my feelings, the film's highlights, and some of its shortcomings in this review!
What is the story?
A young woman named Madhuri Menon (Durga Krishna) disappears in Bangalore. Her parents, husband Ranjith (Sudeep Nair), ex-boyfriend Vishal (Rahul Madhav), aunt, and father's assistant—all become suspects. Srikanth (Dhananjay), a maverick police officer who investigates the case, cracks the case with his unique investigative style. As each suspect tells his story, new angles and secrets emerge. Is there a common cause behind Madhuri's disappearance, or is there a dark truth? The twists and turns in the climax and the Rashomon-style narration make this a gripping thriller. With a runtime of 115 minutes, the film is based on a real-life incident.
My Feelings: Suspense is high, but there are flaws!
Within the first 10 minutes of the film, Dhananjay, playing Srikanth, captivated the screen with his quirky, grey-shaded character. In one scene, he sniffs coffee powder, smiles sarcastically and investigates, and I thought, “What the hell is this guy!” Dhananjay’s acting, especially his transformation from edgy to absurd in the climax, hooked me. The Rashomon-style different points of view behind Madhuri’s disappearance and the grey characters added suspense to the film. When I saw a flashback scene about Madhuri’s stepfather Girish (Dinesh Babu), I was shocked and thought, “Oh, is this Alanto?”
However, some shortcomings in the film disappointed me. The Kannada dialogues with Malayalam accents were often painful to the ears. This dubbing issue disturbed the flow of the film. Some scenes dragged in the second half, especially Dhananjay's overacting which felt fake at some places. While the plot was good, some of the twists seemed easy to predict, which reduced the intensity of the thriller a bit. While Sudeep Nair and Rahul Madhav's acting was good, their characters seemed one-dimensional. Durga Krishna's role, though small, was impressive, but her screen time was very short.
Technical aspects, acting
Cinematography (Thirunavukarasu) is a big asset to the film. The Bangalore backdrop and grey-desaturated colour palette gave the film a mysterious vibe. Rupert Fernandez's background score elevated the suspense scenes well, especially during the twists in the climax. Editing (Richard Kevin) was tight in the first 83 minutes, but PALACE OF TWINS felt a bit rushed after that.
Dhananjay Srikanth was brilliant in his role. His sarcastic dialogue delivery and body language drove the film. Despite overacting at some places, he brought his complex role to life. Sudeep Nair and Rahul Madhav were good in their roles, but the dubbing issue reduced their impact. Durga Krishna, Dinesh Babu, and Apoorva Bharadwaj impressed in supporting roles.
Likes and Disappointments
Likes:
Dhananjay's performance—Srikanth impressed with his complex emotions in his role.
Rashomon style narration—Different points of view added suspense.
Cinematography and background score—created a mysterious vibe well.
Climax twists—unexpected twists were impressive.
Decent thriller on a small budget—a good step for the Kannada industry.
Disappointments:
Kannada dubbing with Malayalam accent—troublesome to the ears and disturbed the flow.
Dhananjay's overacting—felt fake in some scenes.
Dragging scenes in the second half—needs some tight editing.
Predictable twists—diminished the intensity of the thriller.
Lack of depth in the supporting characters.
Who can watch it?
Twenty One Hours is a decent watch for those who like suspense thrillers and mystery films. Dhananjay fans will definitely like this movie, and you can watch it for his quirky performance. With a U/A rating, it may not be suitable for family audiences due to some vulgar dialogues and intense scenes. Streaming on Amazon Prime, this movie will give an okay experience to those who want a light thriller.
Rating: 3/5
Twenty One Hours is a gripping Kannada-Malayalam thriller, Dhananjay's amazing performance, Rashomon style narration, and cinematography impressed me. The climax twists and suspense scenes are the highlight of the movie. However, the dubbing issue, overacting, and dragged scenes are disappointing. Those who want a decent thriller on a small budget should watch it on Amazon Prime, but don't have high expectations!
Release Date: May 20, 2022 (Theatres)
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Jaishankar Pandit
Cast: Dhananjay, Durga Krishna, Sudeep Nair, Rahul Madhav
Music: Rupert Fernandes