Movie Name : Officer On Duty
Release Date : February 14, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 2.75/5
Starring : Kunchacko Boban, Priya Mani, Jagadish, Vishak Nair
Director : Jithu Ashraf
Producers : Martin Prakkat,Renjith Nair & Siby Chavara
Music Director : Jakes Bejoy
Cinematographer : Roby Varghese Raj
Editors : Chaman Chakko
Related Links : Trailer
Malayalam star Kunchacko Boban’s latest crime investigation thriller, Officer on Duty, with Priyamani playing the female lead, was released in Malayalam on February 20. The film has been dubbed in Telugu with the same title and has now hit the silver screens. Check out our review to see how well it fares.
Story :
Suspended Circle Inspector Hari Shankar (Kunchacko Boban) resumes duty. He often lands in trouble with his colleagues due to his intimidating nature. Hari is assigned a gold chain theft case on the first day of being reinstated. As part of the investigation, he summons a girl to the police station, but she ends her life under mysterious circumstances. Hari Shankar suspects a link between the girl’s death, a Bengaluru cop’s suicide, and the gold chain theft case.
Hari’s investigation unearths dramatic events, and the girl’s father blames him for her death. What prompted the girl to end her life? Is it linked to Hari’s daughter’s death? How is the Bengaluru gang involved in these events? Why does Hari’s wife, Geetha (Priyamani), seek a divorce? In the end, how does Hari solve the case and nab the killers? The answers form the rest of the story.
Plus Points:
Director Jithu Ashraf sets the tone right with a gripping narrative right from the beginning by penning strong characterizations for the lead actors. The way the protagonist Hari’s personal trauma is gradually revealed is quite impressive. Several scenes in the movie are well-executed with tension and suspense.
Kunchacko Boban delivers one of his finest performances. His acting in the intense action and emotional sequences reiterated his command over his craft. Priyamani looks convincing in her role. She is quite good in emotional scenes. The confrontation scenes featuring the hero and the antagonist are engaging.
Minus Points:
Despite having a thrilling premise, the film does not fully engage the audience. While director Jithu Ashraf executed the film decently, the screenplay feels shallow at times, making the film less engaging. Certain scenes couldn’t sustain the suspense factor.
The crucial second half feels lethargic and dragged out. While the film highlights the professional challenges and risks in the protagonist’s job as a CI, the narrative gets diluted with unnecessary subplots. The action episodes in the pre-climax sequences are overly cinematic and far from reality.
Technical Aspects:
Cinematographer Roby Varghese Raj’s work in key moments and action sequences is praiseworthy. Chaman Chakko’s scissors are sharp, but he could have trimmed down certain slow-paced sequences. As usual, Jakes Bejoy effectively supports the storytelling with his splendid background score. The film is visually appealing thanks to the high producer standards by producers Martin Prakkat, Ciby Chavara, and Ranjith Nair.
Verdict:
Officer on Duty offers a blend of crime investigation and family emotions, particularly focusing on a father-daughter sentiment. The film lacks enough engaging moments to maintain the intrigue factor till the end. The lackluster narrative and routine storytelling make the film appealing only to the fans of the crime thriller genre.
123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team