Return of the Dragon

 

I didn’t pay much attention when Return of the Dragon (Dragon in Tamil) was released a couple of days ago since it was a dubbed film. Though actor Pradeep Ranganathan became a sensation with his second movie Love Today, for some reason, I wasn’t inclined to watch this one initially. However, after hearing good feedback, I decided to give it a shot and see what he had done differently this time. And he didn’t disappoint.

After the massive success of Love Today, Pradeep has once again delivered a solid coming-of-age story that resonates with students and the general audience alike. It’s refreshing to see a film set in a college backdrop that brings something new to the table. We’ve seen many college-based films before, some with similar themes—like Raghuvaran B.Tech and Aadavari Matalaku Arthale Verule—which made me wonder what more could be explored in this setting. Usually, college stories revolve around politics, romance, and struggles, but Pradeep and director Ashwath have managed to present a fresh perspective.

The film follows Raghavan, a once-brilliant student in his 12th grade who turns into a rebellious college student nicknamed “Dragon.” Influenced by his high school crush’s remark that girls prefer rugged guys over studious ones, he goes down the wrong path, accumulating 48 backlogs in his engineering course. Despite this, he secures a software job using fake certificates. The real story unfolds when his principal discovers the deception and gives him an ultimatum—clear his backlogs or face the consequences.

The narrative has multiple layers. One explores his breakup with Anupama Parameswaran’s character and how it impacts him. Another focuses on his loving and supportive parents, who stand by him despite his declining academic performance. Then there’s his close-knit group of friends, who stay together and support each other. The character of a junior student who idolizes “Dragon” and becomes a mini version of him adds another interesting dynamic. The title Return of the Dragon is beautifully justified within the story.

If you have studied engineering or medicine, you’ve likely encountered students who were toppers in school but lost their way in college, ending up with backlogs due to bad influences or habits. I’ve seen such cases in my own college—students with sharp minds but the wrong company leading them astray. The film also highlights a common reality: during college, girls often admire the daring, carefree boys who skip classes and appear cool, but when it comes to marriage, they prefer stable, career-oriented men, even if they look less appealing. This irony is depicted beautifully in the movie. Additionally, it touches on the impatience of today’s youth, who look for shortcuts—like fake certificates and proxy interviews—to secure jobs. This aspect feels incredibly relevant in today’s world.

The movie ends on a strong, philosophical note, delivering an important message: if you build your life or career on lies, you’ll never find true happiness. Deep down, you’ll always know it’s fake, and it can all collapse at any moment. A college degree might not seem glamorous, but an honest life and career bring genuine satisfaction and peace.

Though the film is tailored for today’s youth, it never crosses the line into vulgarity, double-meaning dialogues, or forced comedy. Instead, it subtly imparts valuable lessons. A couple of standout scenes include one where Raghavan refuses a tequila shot at a pub because he has to drive his fiancée home and another where he warns his friend “Chota Dragon” against driving drunk. These moments deliver important messages without feeling preachy. This proves that with creativity, filmmakers can craft engaging stories that connect with the youth without resorting to cheap gimmicks.

As for performances, Pradeep Ranganathan impresses once again. He reminds me of Tamil superstars like Rajinikanth and Dhanush—not because of his looks but due to his acting prowess and ability to express a range of emotions. He even throws self-deprecating satire about his lean frame, which adds to his charm. This film has earned him my respect for both his story choices and his acting skills, and I eagerly look forward to his future projects. Anupama Parameswaran delivers a stellar performance as his love interest, bringing depth to her role. Kayadu Lohar, the second female lead, also does well, capturing attention with her screen presence. Special mention goes to George Maryan (of Kaithi and Leo fame), who shines as Raghavan’s caring and supportive father. The supporting cast, especially Raghavan’s group of friends, have all done a commendable job.

Director Ashwath Marimuthu, in just his second film, has handled the subject beautifully. The only aspect that could have been better is the music—while the background score is decent, the songs could have been stronger.

Overall, in an era where people often complain about a lack of fresh stories and rehashed narratives, Return of the Dragon stands out. It delivers an engaging college-based story without exaggerated elevation scenes, over-the-top villains, or unnecessary grandeur. Instead, it remains entertaining, relatable, and meaningful, ending with a powerful message. If you liked Love Today, you’ll likely enjoy this film even more. I highly recommend watching it.

My rating: 9/10.

Captain America: Brave New World

 

There used to be so much excitement whenever Marvel Studios released a movie. At one point, their films were incredible—gripping stories, great action choreography, groundbreaking CGI, and spectacular performances from the actors. However, after the Avengers series, something changed. Their movies no longer had that same impact. Maybe it started feeling repetitive—the same old stories, conveniently using the multiverse and time travel to spin off endless films. It felt like they were just milking their previous successes. But with the recent success of Wolverine and Deadpool, there is hope that Marvel can recapture its former magic.

When Sam Wilson became the new Captain America, Marvel followed up with a Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. I really liked that series. It felt different—it explored Sam Wilson's internal struggle, his doubts about being a worthy successor to Steve Rogers. Along with the personal conflict, the storyline was solid, and the action sequences were on par with the actual movies. After its success, Marvel decided to give Sam his own film, which is the latest installment in their Phase 5 series, Captain America: Brave New World. 

The movie is good. It brings back several characters from previous films, like Thaddeus Ross (who first appeared in The Incredible Hulk), Dr. Samuel Stern, a new character from Black Widow, the Serpent Society, and many more. The story kicks off with Ross becoming the new President of the United States. During a presentation unveiling a new element, Adamantium, there's an assassination attempt on him. Sam Wilson takes on the investigation to uncover the mastermind behind it all. This mystery element is engaging and keeps you hooked, which is refreshing for a Marvel film, as they often rely solely on superhero action. The investigative angle is reminiscent of Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

The action sequences are well done. I particularly liked Sam Wilson's introduction scene—he arrives at supersonic speed, lands among the bad guys, warns them to "wait for it," and then boom—the sound wave knocks them out, proving he moves faster than sound. The film also delves deeper into Sam's self-doubt, questioning whether he can live up to Steve Rogers despite lacking superhuman abilities. There's also a surprise connection to Dr. Samuel Stern that longtime fans of The Incredible Hulk might appreciate.

Harrison Ford plays Thaddeus Ross, and I think he does a good job. In the comics and previous films, Ross always had a thick mustache, whereas Ford does not. The movie even jokes about this with a line: "Lose the mustache or lose the election." I found that funny. Another interesting detail is how they depict world leaders. The Indian Prime Minister, for example, resembles Narendra Modi, though the film shows him with a wife—whereas Modi is actually a bachelor.

The movie also lays the groundwork for the next Avengers films. Ross asks Sam to form a new Avengers team, which aligns with Marvel's plan for two more Avengers movies. A key moment is when Harrison Ford’s character turns into Red Hulk. Ford does his best to appear as angry as possible, but given his charming persona, it's hard to take him seriously as a raging monster. The climax features a duel between Red Hulk and Sam Wilson, but it ends abruptly. They could have extended the fight a bit more. The transformation of Red Hulk back to normal also felt like déjà vu, as we've seen this same sequence with Bruce Banner countless times before. Additionally, the movie is shorter than typical MCU films, running under two hours.

Anthony Mackie delivers a fantastic performance. It’s great to see him go from playing a supporting role in the MCU to leading a major film and carrying it on his shoulders. He portrays Sam Wilson’s inner struggles exceptionally well, paralleling his own journey as an actor stepping into a leading role. The rest of the cast, including Harrison Ford and Israeli actress Shira Haas, also do a commendable job.

Julius Onah’s direction is solid. The music and sound editing are great. However, I felt the CGI was underwhelming. Even after two decades, the effects looked similar to the original Hulk movie. It’s unclear where all the budget went, but the visuals didn’t feel as polished as they should have.

Overall, the movie does a great job of establishing Sam Wilson as the new Captain America. The investigation angle, action sequences, and character payoffs make it worth watching. I recommend watching a recap on YouTube beforehand, as otherwise, you might struggle to remember who all these returning characters are.

I’d give the movie a 7 out of 10.

Thandel

Naga Chaitanya has been struggling with a string of flops and desperately needed a solid hit. When he announced Thandel with Geetha Arts, it immediately created a buzz. A film backed by prestigious producers like Allu Aravind and Bunny Vasu is usually a sign that there’s something special about it. The film stars Sai Pallavi, who previously acted with Naga Chaitanya in Love Story, a blockbuster. With music by Devi Sri Prasad and direction by Chandoo Mondeti, the film had all the makings of a big success. Plus, the team took over a year to complete it.

Adding to the intrigue, Thandel is based on real incidents about Indian fishermen captured by Pakistani soldiers and the struggles they and their families faced before their release.

I liked the movie. At first, I wondered why Sai Pallavi always ends up in emotional roles where she has to cry a lot. But as the story progressed, I got invested and felt satisfied by the end. One refreshing aspect was that the lead pair was already deeply in love when the movie began. Most films spend too much time on the hero's journey to win over the heroine, but here, the love story was already established. That allowed the narrative to focus more on what happens after their relationship is tested.

Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi are a hit pair. They complement each other with stellar performances. The pre-interval conflict was done exceptionally well—many will relate to it. There’s a moment where the female lead refuses to talk to the hero, and no matter what he does, she sticks to her decision. Naga Chaitanya’s performance in this sequence is superb, perfectly capturing the frustration and pain of not being able to communicate with his lover. Sai Pallavi, as always, is fantastic.

The second half is well-executed, showcasing real political incidents from that time and how they affected the captured fishermen. One aspect I appreciated was the portrayal of the Pakistani jailer. Rather than making him a stereotypical villain, they showed him as a man simply doing his duty while understanding that the fishermen were innocent. It was refreshing to see this nuanced take—despite the India-Pakistan rivalry, regular people on both sides don’t necessarily hate each other. Of course, the film does highlight extremists who despise India, adding moments of tension. One particular jail scene was quite uncomfortable to watch. I won’t spoil it, but I think it was necessary to add emotional weight.

Thandel is a commendable attempt at telling a real-life-inspired story. The background score by Devi Sri Prasad is excellent, especially the signature theme used to showcase the love between the lead pair. Performance-wise, as mentioned earlier, Naga Chaitanya did a great job. With his long hair and beard, he looked like a rustic fisherman and convincingly portrayed a lover deeply in love while also emerging as a leader (Thandel means leader) for his fellow fishermen.

I particularly liked one supporting character who wanted to marry Sai Pallavi—his role was well-written. The rest of the cast was good, but some didn’t quite fit as fishermen, and their accents felt off. Given that the team took a year to make this film, they could have provided better training to make the accents more authentic. Cinematography and art direction were solid. As for the director, Chandoo Mondeti surprised me. I didn’t expect him to handle a love story so well while also delivering strong emotions.

Sai Pallavi’s role felt tailor-made for her, and she did full justice to it. The opening sequence felt like it was edited to create a hook, but later, the director introduced Sai Pallavi as if we were seeing her for the first time, which felt a bit inconsistent.

You should give this film a try. My rating: 8/10.