Dilruba – Movie Review
Release Date: March 14, 2025
Rating: 2.5/5
Starring: Kiran Abbavaram, Rukshar Dhillon, Kathy Davison, John Vijay
Director: Vishwa Karan
Producers: Vikram Mehra, Siddharth Anand Kumar, Ravi, Jojo Jose, Rakesh Reddy
Music Director: SAM C.S
Cinematographer: Viswas Daniel
Editor: Praveen KL
Story:
After the success of KA, Kiran Abbavaram returns with Dilruba, a romantic action drama. The story centers around Siddharth Reddy, aka Siddhu (Kiran Abbavaram), who has a deep aversion to the words “sorry” and “thank you.” After a breakup with Meghana (Kathy Davison), Siddhu moves to Mangalore to continue his studies. Meanwhile, Meghana moves on, gets married, and settles in the USA.
In Mangalore, Siddhu meets Anjali (Rukshar Dhillon), a fun-loving and spirited student. They develop a close bond, but just as things are looking up, a sudden twist drives them apart. When Meghana learns about this, she returns to India, hoping to reconcile the couple. The film explores the reasons behind Siddhu’s reluctance to apologize and whether his past and present relationships will ever reconcile.
Plus Points:
Kiran Abbavaram brings his usual energy and charm to the role, which helps carry some parts of the film. His chemistry with Rukshar Dhillon is decent, adding a few light-hearted and entertaining moments to the story.
Rukshar Dhillon shines in a role that allows her to play a playful, mischievous character, and her comic timing works well in some scenes.
The film also includes a few action sequences, with Aadukalam Naren delivering a solid performance despite limited screen time.
Minus Points:
The biggest issue with Dilruba is its lackluster story. The plot feels directionless, and there is a notable absence of engaging elements to keep the audience hooked. The film struggles with pacing, and the screenplay lacks the necessary momentum, making it feel dragged out.
Kiran Abbavaram’s role in Dilruba feels like a repeat of his previous performances, offering nothing new or exciting. As the film moves forward, it draws comparisons to countless other films with similar themes, making it hard to stay invested.
Kathy Davison’s performance as Meghana is a major letdown. Her blank expressions and weak dialogue delivery, coupled with poor lip-syncing, make it difficult for the audience to connect with her character. Additionally, several supporting characters feel underutilized, and their story arcs lack development.
The second half of the film does not improve much. The music, which could have elevated the emotional depth of the film, fails to make any significant impact. Many of Kiran Abbavaram’s dialogues, intended to be punchy, often come across as forced and unnecessary.
John Vijay’s villainous character is more comical than menacing, which weakens the film’s conflict. Overall, the storytelling feels outdated, as if it belongs in the early 2000s.
Technical Aspects:
Director Vishwa Karan, in his debut, struggles to create an engaging romantic action drama. The writing lacks originality, and his execution fails to make the story compelling. While familiar storylines can still work with fresh treatment, Dilruba lacks that spark, leaving the audience disengaged.
Viswas Daniel’s cinematography is decent but doesn’t stand out. The editing by Praveen KL could have been sharper, especially in trimming unnecessary scenes. The CGI work, though present, feels below average and detracts from the overall experience.
SAM C.S’s music is another letdown, as it fails to elevate the film’s emotional scenes, leaving the soundtrack forgettable.
Verdict:
In conclusion, Dilruba is a middling romantic action drama that has a few entertaining moments but ultimately falls short. While Kiran Abbavaram brings his signature energy and Rukshar Dhillon adds some charm, the lack of a strong storyline, predictable narration, and weak performances from some of the cast members hold the film back. Debutant director Vishwa Karan struggles to maintain the audience’s interest, resulting in a film that is hard to stay invested in. Fans of the genre may find some enjoyment, but Dilruba is ultimately forgettable for most viewers.
Rating: 2.5/5