Sci-Fi film doubles up as a murder mystery

An other sci-fi film, this time doubling up as a murder mystery is here. And does it make the right headway in satisfying the crowds? With a unique storyline and concept, it actually does. The simple premise of the story is about a CBI officer dispatched to solve the mystery of serial killings. On the other hand is a strange man (Praveen Reddy as Arjun) who also suffers from a strange disease.

The title of the film is the clue to this man’s mystery. As the CBI officer continues her probe, she has to cope with pressure of having to find the culprit before the killer finds his next victim. This is not the case of the usual suspect; the story manages to keep the suspense on hold for most part of the narration.

The film itself is a shade over 100 minutes long and the crisp editing and narration manages to hold the audience interest in the whodunit well. Apart from the unique storyline, the technical trio of composer Nobin Paul, editor Vishwa NM and cinematog rapher Rakesh Thilak are the bedrock of this film. They provide the arresting background score, crisp cuts and intriguing visuals necessary for a film like this.

On the acting front, it is Priyamani’s show all the way. The actress delivers a knockout performance in the role of the investigator. She is believable and carries the character to perfection.The film is not a set-piece drama and is not mounted on a huge scale. But with the unusual characteristic of depending heavily on its unique concept it manages to put up a big show.

The director manages to convey a grandness of the scheme of things unfolding. The lavish money shots of an action film are replaced by the thrilling moments of the twists and turns of the story. What begs the question is that if it befits the experience of the big screen where audiences seem to be more interested in bigscale showpiece and event films. Dr.56 is still a good film to experience on the big screen. It depends on Priyamani’s star power to do the trick in driving the audience to theatres.

Film: Dr.56

Director: Rajesh Ananda Leela

Cast: Priyamani, Praveen Reddy T, Ramesh Bhat, Girish Jatti, Raj Deepak Shetty, Swathi Gurudutt

Duration: 106 minutes

Certificate: U/A