Pooja Gandhi's Kannada film Ninagaagi Kaadiruve directed by stunt director Jooly Bastian has its story and screenplay also written by the debutant director.
Bastian, who has worked as an action director in over six hundred films in all the four southern languages, has written a story that reminds us of many suspense thrillers like Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and Ram Gopal Verma's Kaun.
It seems Bastian has not seen Pooja Gandhi's last film Huchchi. Both Huchchi and Ninagaagi Kaadiruve have one thing in common -- Both look like badly made television serials. Though this film is much better than Huchchi, it fails to engage the audience. The film moves at a pathetic pace which tests the audience's patience.
Ninagaagi Kaadiruve is the first film for which Pooja has dubbed in her voice. But her dubbing in a strong north Indian accent is not impressive at all. Although the film says that the heroine was brought up in Delhi, the accent is not believable.
The story goes like this: Pooja plays Shwetha who loves Nandan and and marries him despite opposition from her family. Vishwas, a close friend, is instrumental in making the wedding happen. Tragedy stikes when Vishwas gets killed.
Pooja Gandhi looks glamorous in the song sequences, but her performance is average. Vishal Hegde is the pick of the lot. Dileep scores in the villain's role though it is not well defined.
The Bahumaanavaadhe song is well composed by Robin Gurang. Camera work is just passable.
All in all, Ninagaagi Kaadiruve is a big yawn. Watch it only if you do not have any other alternative.
Rediff Rating: 
