Film: Nam Duniya Nam Style
Director: Preetham Gubbi
Cast: Likith Shetty, Vinayak, Krishna, Sonia Gowda, MIlana Nagaraj, Kavya Shetty
Nam Duniya Nam Style is all dressed up with no place to go. It’s got the theatrics, fancy costumes and free-care attitude but no direction.
Friends Yogi (Krishna, a popular TV anchor), Preetham (Likith Shetty) and Umesh Shetty (Vinayak) come from different backgrounds. Yogi is a real estate agent who doubles as the big brother of his residential colony, Preetham works in a company and Umesh runs a departmental store along with his father. The three share a thick bond for 15 years.
Preetham falls for his colleague Maya (Sonia Gowda). Even before he can express his feelings, Maya is transferred to Malaysia. He shares his misfortune with Yogi and Umesh who ask him to travel to Malaysia to propose to Maya. Meanwhile, Preetham bumps into Milana (Milana Nagaraj), a girl who lives life to the fullest. Coincidentally, she too is travelling to Malaysia to visit her paternal uncle Rangayana Raghu, who is on the look for a match for Milana. Milana then strikes a deal with Preetham; he and his friends can stay for free at her Malaysia home and, to ward off prospects her uncle presents, in exchange, Preetham must pretend to be her boyfriend.
Preetham is happy to find Maya and proposes to her. Yogi finds himself attracted to a teacher, Radha (Kavya Shetty) and Umesh gets friendly with a Chinese girl. The story revolves around how the three try to woo their girls and later find true love.
Coming from writer-director Preetham Gubbi, more was expected of this film. NDNS feels cliched as Gubbi brings in bits and pieces inspired from different films together and, in the bargain, loses track.
When it comes to the plot and characters, Nam Duniya Nam Style is superficial. There are some crackles with smart exchanges among the characters and some good choreography, but all this gradually begins to annoy as the film plods on. Of the newcomers, Krishna deserves the most credit for his act. As for the girls, Kavya comes across as smart and practical but ends up looking stiff. Milana Nagaraj’s sultry rendition is one of the highlights though she needs to improve on her expressions. Sonia Gowda is a glam doll and not much else. Supporting roles are played by Rangayana Raghu and Sadhu Kokila who have nothing much to do.
Mollywood music director, Shaan Rahman’s debut in Kannada is not so pleasing. Cinematographer HC Venu could have done a better job.
The verdict: Nam Duniya, Nam Style is missing Preetham Gubbi’s magic.