An expertly crafted suspense, Tony belongs to a genre often overlooked by producers for more lucrative projects.
Three stories, told through flashbacks, run concurrently in the film that raises theological and philosophical questions as its protagonists struggle to find heaven on earth.
Keshava (Srinagar Kitty), a street smart unemployed youth, decides to call himself Tony inspired by a speech by Anthony Robbins, a motivational guru. He thinks it a fancy name and hopes it'll earn him quick money.
Tony wakes up one day to find himself on the footpath, devoid of all his belongings. Just then he receives a call from an unknown person demanding he carry out certain tasks in return for the safety his girlfriend Pammi's (Aindrita Ray) life.
A flashback reveals that Tony has always been wanting to make a quick buck. This lands him in a trap where he is blackmailed into carrying out criminal activities. Who is the stranger calling and is Tony able to break out of his hold make for interesting points in the mystery that carries until the end.
The second tale is about a farmer's greed for land who when given a chance to acquire as much as he can loses everything. The third story portrays the happy life of a rich villager and his family. The three stories have a common thread running through which is put together by the end of the film.
Besides telling a thriller of a story, Jayatheertha has done a good job in capturing the atmosphere of namma Bengaluru. The film makes no space for commercial elements barring one or two action sequences.
Kitty puts up a captivating show. As an actor, he juggles the complex and the simple, showing the audience various shades to his character. Aindrita has also played her part well. The surprise factor is Ravi Shankar as he brings a twist to the film. The stumbling block in Tony are the many songs which seems out of place in a thriller.
Technically Gnanamurthy has concentrated well on cinematography, which is one of the highlights of the film. The background score and music have been composed by Sadhu Kokila, and a couple of songs penned by Yograj Bhat, Jayatheerta, Jayanth Kaikini and Arasu Anthare are excellent.
The Verdict: Films like Tony are rare in Sandalwood. Watch it, if you don't mind the different.