'Junior' movie review| Pleasant family drama to launch mining baron's son

Mining baron G Janardhan Reddy’s son Kireeti’s debut film opens with a woman (Sudharani) in her 40s delivering a baby. Shaamana Kodandapaani (Ravichandran), the father, is left to care for the boy on his own after the mother dies. Circumstances force Shaamana to start a new life elsewhere.

Abhi (Kireeti) struggles with the weight of his father’s overwhelming affection. After college, he starts working at a corporate company, but his life takes an unexpected turn. As challenges arise at his workplace, he is forced to return to his ancestral village. How will he navigate this new reality? What strategies does he use to overcome obstacles and achieve his goal, forms the rest of the film.

The story takes its time setting the stage in the first half. Although the plot becomes predictable after the interval, strong emotional scenes, impactful dialogues, and compelling performances keep the audience hooked. However, unnecessary songs and action sequences disturb the film’s pace. It starts as a college romance drama but abruptly shifts into a family drama. Radhakrishna misses the chance to craft a cohesive, powerful family drama by awkwardly blending two genres.

Ravichandran, in the role of a father, delivers a career-defining performance. Kireeti shines in dance and action sequences; there’s room for growth in his overall performance. Genelia nails the role of an emotionless woman.

The background score is middling and the songs are not memorable. The film has noticeable logical lapses, such as Andhra Pradesh state buses having Karnataka registration numbers with Telugu boards, and Abhi taking an exam at a college without being a student there.

Despite its flaws, the film’s heartfelt portrayal of the father-child relationship makes it entertaining and impactful.

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