Gali Janardhan Reddy’s son Kireeti’s entry into films created buzz. His calm persona, DSP’s music, and Genelia’s return added hype. Let’s see how “Junior” fared with the audience!
Junior Movie Story: Abhi (Kireeti Reddy), aiming for an independent life, moves to Bengaluru for engineering after topping his exams. He dreams of enjoying hostel life and landing a job.
However, things get complicated when he clashes with his boss Vijay (Genelia). Soon, he uncovers shocking truths about both Vijay and his father Kodandapani (Ravichandran). How Abhi deals with these revelations forms the crux of Junior.
Performances: Kireeti shows all the qualities of a commercial hero. With proper training from a young age, he doesn’t seem like a debut actor. His dance moves and fight scenes especially connect with mass audiences.
The opening fight scene has good energy, and in songs like ‘Viral Vayyari’, his ease and grace remind us of Puneeth Rajkumar and Jr NTR. Sreeleela appears only in the first half and shines with her glam and dance but disappears later.
Genelia’s comeback creates buzz, though her role lacks depth. Ravichandran impresses with his acting. Supporting actors do well, but the villain’s purpose is unclear.
Technical Aspects: Devi Sri Prasad’s songs are decent. However, the background music feels familiar, reminiscent of his older work. Senthil’s cinematography adds richness to the visuals, and the makers didn’t compromise on production values. All technical aspects are well-handled, with mass elements neatly blended.
Director Radhakrishna Reddy packed ‘Junior’ with commercial ingredients like action, emotion, songs, and twists. He succeeded in introducing Kireeti to the mass audience, but the film lacks freshness. Today’s audience expects engaging storytelling beyond routine commercial formulas. With a more gripping screenplay and innovative touch, the film could’ve had better impact.
Analysis: ‘Junior’ has all the right elements for a new hero’s launch, action, dances, glamour, and comedy, but it doesn’t fully engage. It’s okay for time-pass, but needs patience otherwise.
Verdict: “Junior” is a decent launchpad for Kireeti with good commercial elements, but falls short in overall impact. Watch it if you’re in the mood for a light, time-pass entertainer.
Bottom Line: Massy launch, lacks lasting impression.
Rating: 2.5/5
