'Challenge' (Kannada)
Director: Ganesh Kamaraj
Cast: Achyuth Kumar, Dilipraj, Harish Raj and Kalabhavan Mani
'Challenge' was released in three languages simultaneously — Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam. Director Ganesh Kamaraj who wanted to make this Kannada film, that revolves around the drug mafia, in other languages fails to win the challenge.
'Challenge' revolves around seven people, who are locked in a factory and suffer a short memory loss after inhaling smoke. When they regain consciousness, they behave like strangers. How they come out of the whole mess is explained in a tricky way by the director.
While the first half leaves us with lot of questions and confusion, the second half clears all the doubts. But, director Kamaraj who had an intelligent subject at hand has lost points in his presentation and could not transcend it whole-heartedly on to the screen.
As a beginner, the narration is confined to the director who expects his audience to understand what is going on in his mind and that is where he fails to make an impact.
Among the actors, Achyuth Kumar has given his best when compared to others. His selfishness to become rich and taking wrong decisions in life has been portrayed very well.
Harish Raj, Kalabhavan Mani, Nishanth are an added bonus while heroine Sanjana Singh has nothing much to do in the film. Friendship is another factor, which is showcased well in 'Challenge'.
Technically, Magesh K Dev has failed too. The darkness throughout the film arrests the viewer. Nothing much to talk about the songs by Kannan and dialogue writer Shaan.