45 Movie Review: I watched 45 at a paid premiere, walked into the theatre with genuine curiosity, and walked out with mixed feelings that stayed with me longer than I expected. This isn’t one of those films you forget the moment the lights come on. It sticks.
Sometimes for the right reasons. Sometimes, because you keep thinking, “Man, this could’ve been better.” And yes, the biggest question still lingers: what is 45? I’m not touching spoilers here. That curiosity is the film’s biggest hook, and it deserves to stay that way.
My Rating: 3.0/5
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | 45 |
| Language | Kannada |
| Director | Arjun Janya |
| Genre | Philosophical Drama / Thriller |
| Runtime | 2h 30m |
| Lead Cast | Shivarajkumar, Upendra, Raj B. Shetty |
What 45 Is Really Trying to Say
45, directed by Arjun Janya, is one of those ambitious Kannada films that wants to talk about life, death, karma, faith, fear, love, and the baggage we carry without realizing it. That’s a lot to take on, and honestly, I respect the attempt.
The idea itself is strong. Really strong. At some point in life, almost everyone has had that thought — the one this film builds its entire core around. When I realized what the film was trying to say, I was genuinely impressed. It’s relatable, philosophical, and rooted in belief systems like the Garuda Purana, without shoving sermons down your throat.
That’s the heart of 45. And when it works, it works beautifully.
The First Half: Where the Film Pulls You In
The first 30 minutes? I was hooked. The setup is engaging, the mystery builds naturally, and the film keeps asking questions without rushing to answer them. It trusts the audience a bit, which I liked. There’s a smooth flow, the packaging feels confident, and the storytelling has a rhythm.
This is also where the fan service starts working.
- Upendra shows up with that unsettling, slightly unhinged energy that only he can pull off.
- Raj B. Shetty surprisingly gets his own fan moment — subtle, but effective.
- And the theatre reacts. Whistles, claps, murmurs — the vibe was real.
The film doesn’t try to be overly philosophical here. It balances entertainment and thought pretty well.
Shivanna’s Entry and the Climax High
Shivarajkumar’s entry is placed smartly. They save him. They build toward him. And when he finally arrives, the energy shifts. The climax, especially the Shiva Tandava portion, does a lot of heavy lifting. It connects dots that the screenplay earlier struggled with. Emotionally, that stretch saved the film for me.
You can feel Shivanna’s effort. His dedication is visible, even if everything around him doesn’t fully support it.
Where 45 Starts Losing Its Grip
45 has ideas, but the screenplay doesn’t always know how to carry them. The second half felt like a different movie altogether. Scenes that worked individually didn’t flow together. Comedy pops up randomly. Some characters feel painfully weak, almost dummy-level, which kills the tension.
When your opposing characters aren’t strong, even powerful actors look underutilized. At one point, I genuinely felt the film was circling instead of moving forward. I kept thinking: “This idea deserved sharper writing. Stronger conflicts. Better scene-to-scene connection.”
And that’s the real frustration. The potential was right there.
Music & Background Score – A Mixed Bag
I had expectations from Arjun Janya, the music director, and mixed feelings about Arjun Janya, the director, handling everything himself. The music is decent. But once Shivanna enters, the background score suddenly finds its spine. That’s when the theatrical experience kicks in.
Before that? It’s serviceable, nothing memorable.
The Biggest Letdown: VFX
I won’t sugarcoat this. If the VFX had been better, the climax would’ve hit 10x harder. You can see the effort. You can see the intention. But the execution doesn’t match the scale of the idea. At times, the visuals feel unfinished, overly processed, or just distracting.
For a film dealing with metaphysical themes, visuals matter, a lot.
Performances That Stand Out (and Don’t)
- Upendra: Easily one of the film’s strengths. His character has layers, negative shades, humor, and unpredictability.
- Raj B. Shetty: Grounded, effective, and exactly what the role demanded.
- Shivarajkumar: Powerful presence, especially in the climax, though the writing doesn’t fully back him throughout.
Also Read: Sarvam Maya Review: Nivin Pauly’s Quiet Comeback That Made Me Smile Again
Good vs Bad – A Quick, Honest Table
| What Worked | What Didn’t |
|---|---|
| Strong core idea | Weak screenplay flow |
| Engaging first half | Draggy, predictable second half |
| Fan moments for stars | Underwritten side characters |
| Shivanna’s climax | Disappointing VFX |
| Philosophical theme | Missed narrative potential |
Final Verdict: Should You Watch 45?
Yes, but with the right expectations. If you’re a fan of Shivanna, Upendra, or Raj B. Shetty, this is a comfortable theatrical watch. You can take your family. There’s effort, sincerity, and ambition on display.
But if you’re expecting a tightly written, edge-of-the-seat philosophical thriller, you might feel let down. For me, 45 landed somewhere between above average and decent. I admired the idea more than the execution. I respected the intent, even when the film stumbled.
And maybe that’s why the question still lingers after the credits roll: What is 45? If you’ve watched the film, I genuinely want to know, did the second half work for you, or was it just me?
