V MOVIE REVIEW CLICK TO RATE THE MOVIE

Yet another OTT release and this time around, it is the 25th film of actor Nani, in which he plays the antagonist for the first time. However, it is the good cop Adithya (Sudheer Babu) who gets the hero introduction scene. Our hero has something “massier” lined up.

The plot revolves around a cop and a serial killer who taunts him with clues and catch-me-if-you-can lines. Who is V and why does he commit these murders? And why does he choose Adithya to communicate these to and taunt, when it could have been any other officer; even a one higher in rank? So far, so good.

A double murder within the first 20 minutes does set up the tempo, however, the director fails to utilise this start and tries to pack too many elements and ends up as a Hollywood wannabe version of a crime thriller. You also have a Scarlet Pimpernel/Da Vinci style symbols being left at the crime scene.

Usually, serial killers in movies are known to be targetting women, here it is a welcome change. In this day and age, to show killers using mobiles to communicate is a bit of a stretch, considering the tracking technology we have, thankfully an explanation has been given for the same. We also wonder when a slice of novelty would be infused into those stereotypical don/henchmen scenes. 

Adithya and Apoorva’s (Nivetha Thomas who we are told is a first-class Psychology graduate) first meeting may have been construed as something casual and cool, nonetheless, comes nothing as such and looks to be contrived. Over time, both characters develop a more natural chemistry. Whichever event Adithya attends, Apoorva lands up conveniently, otherwise how will the romantic track proceed?

Albeit, there is a little bit of reprieve in the sense that our heroine is not there in the story to just hang by the hero’s side, she aids him in his mission to nab V as well. However, their story does act as a speed-breaker in between while the same couldn’t be said of the Nani-Aditi Rao Hydari (who probably comes for the shortest timeline of all) love story. Despite the limited time, there is a bit of a freshness.

Nani’s hero introduction scene, puffing away and plunging a sharp object at the victim’s ? neck does add a bit of mystique, you can’t miss the Arjun Reddy hangover. We sincerely hope the glasses were for anonymity and not a hero introduction accessory.

Coming to the performances, Sudheer Babu is constrained and delivers with his tall frame aiding him in the role of a police officer. Nivetha is a natural and shines with whatever little material she has.

Coming to the man of the moment, Nani waltz in his V avatar, perhaps borrowed from V for Vendetta, as with many other elements in the story. Going for grey lens seems to have worked in his favour. Watch out for the scenes where he stays impassive in those close shaves, just like any other shrewd criminal would have done.

Aditi brings in a lot of dignity to her role. However, cute scenes announcing pregnancy are really becoming a tiring trope. Dialogues are intelligent and witty. Other technical departments are adequate. Overall, the movie follows a pattern - it starts off well, dips and then revives a bit and then, rinse and repeat.