'U-Turn' review: Pawan Kumar delivers a must-watch supernatural thriller

Movie: U-Turn (Kannada)
Cast: Shraddha Srinath, Roger Narayan, Radhika Chetan, Krishna, Aarna, Pavan, Naveen, Sudha Belwadi
Director: Pawan Kumar

What it's about 

Director Pawan Kumar is back with a film three years after his superhit Kannada film Lucia. U-Turn, released with subtitles, revolves around the Double Road flyover in Bengaluru. Rachana (Shraddha Srinath) is a young journalist interning a newspaper office. She is researching for a story on why people commit traffic crimes by removing the divider blocks and doing illegal u-turns on the flyover. An old homeless man who lives on the flyover helps her with the story. Meanwhile, she also develops an office romance with Adithya, a crime reporter at work. Suddenly one day Rachana is arrested by the police in connection with a murder. She cries that she is innocent and investigating officer Nayak believes her. So he decided to help her. The story intensifies when she reveals that in her diary she has the names of ten people who did illegal u-turns on the flyover and the police find that all of them have died. What is the connection between the flyover and the deaths? How is Rachana involved?

What's good

Unlike Lucia, director Pawan Kumar has made this a heroine-centric film. In this film, he explores the supernatural genre using a basic concept of using a flyover. As a director, he always ensures he gets the casting right for his films. In U-Turn too he has good actors who deliver his vision. The first half of the film has many suspense elements and it leaves you wondering what is about to unfold in the second half. The movie may have been made on a small budget but it has been well shot - there are no unnecessary scenes (songs or masala) and the script is tight. The narrative flows quite seamlessly with each of the several characters playing an important role in the story. The background music by Poornachandra Tejaswi and editing by Suresh are a plus for the film.

What's not

U-Turn is gripping in the first half, but in the second the mystery seems to unravel all too quickly. There is too much footage given to the supernatural elements and the movie becomes too predictable. Pawan Kumar is a wonderful storyteller but in this film he falters. The second half could have been better written to match the thrilling first half.

What to do

This movie will make you think the next you make an illegal u-turn. Pawan Kumar has made a supernatural thriller that is sure to send some chills down your spine. Despite the flaws, the director ensures he has delivered a film that is a must-watch.

Rating: ***