BOTTOM LINE
Devoids Thrill and Emotional Connect
OUR RATING
1.75/5
CENSOR
132 minutes
What Is the Film About?
Rhythm (Keerthy Suresh) is expecting a Baby from Her Second Marriage but the memories of a Masked Man torturing her kidnapped son (Ajay) from her previous marriage keep haunting her. She sets on a difficult mission to trace the Psycho.
How Is Keerthy Suresh’s Performance?
Keerthy Suresh has lost oodles of weight. She lost a bit of charm but suits the character of a devastated mother. She delivers a decent performance. However, at some point, it appears as if the role of a mother who is after a dangerous Psycho killer to find her missing son may be too heavy for her to fit in. But as said earlier, she tried her best within her limitations.
Direction by Eashvar Karthic?
The newcomer, Eashvar Karthic banked on the mother sentiment and whodunit drama for her debut film. Both are safe subjects but he failed to do justice to the script scribbled on the paper. Firstly, he struggled to weave the sympathy around the mother. The hunt for the culprit and her son does not evoke interest which makes the first half boring. Poor writing and the direction to be blamed for it.
The second half piques some interest with the Doctor Track. But it does not gel in the story and is clearly seen as a purposeful diversion. The so-called climax twist appears like it is placed just for the sake of pinning down someone unexpected. Once the twist is revealed, the remaining film appears purposeless.
Penguin is a bad attempt from a first-timer in the writing as well as the direction department. Even at a compact 130 minutes runtime, it tests your patience. If that is the case for a digital watch, the theatrical experience would be horrible.
Others?
The actor who played the role of Ajay and the dog are other good things about the cast. Raghu (Linga), the ex-husband performed well while the current spouse Gautham (Madhampatty Rangaraj) has very little to do. Mathi who is seen as Doctor David gets a role with substance and made his mark. Without revealing the so-called twist, the actor seems to be a complete misfit just like the actual twist itself.
Music and Other Departments?
Kharthik Phalani’s visuals are undoubtedly the only flawless department in the film. The visuals are topnotch and enhance the mood of the thriller. Santosh Narayanan’s background score is intense. The dubbing has been odd at many places while the dialogues could have been better. The editing seems patchy and the movie still feels lengthy even at 130 Minutes Runtime.
Highlights?
Keerthy Suresh‘s Natural Act
Kharthik Phalani’s Visuals
Santosh Narayanan’s BGM
Drawbacks?
Boring First Half
Poor Writing and Screenplay
Uninteresting Twists
Outdated Climax
Alternative Take
The drama would have worked if Rhythm does not get married and continues her pursuit of finding her son as a Single Mother. The second marriage thing may have ensured that audience do not connect to the mother’s pain. And then, there are loose ends regarding the twists which should be addressed. Basically, it would take a lot of overhaul of the script to make the film a decent watch.
Did I Enjoy It?
No
Will You Recommend It?
No
Penguin Telugu Movie Review by Siddartha Toleti
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