What’s it about?
Arjun (Varun Tej), an army officer, travels to the United Kingdom to seek better medical treatment for his mother. He’s currently unemployed and lack money to support his mother’s medical needs. Fortunately, an Indian agent in the UK hires him to provide protection for Union Minister Aditya Raj (Nasser), who is in London to deliver a speech at a UN meeting. An owner of a multinational corporation (Vinay Rai) threatens the minister to sign a document in favor of his company.
Will Arjun protect the minister as the multinational corporation does everything in its power to stop him?
Analysis
Praveen Sattaru’s career took a turn for the better after the success of his sleek action film “PSV Garuda Vega”, and he was soon inundated with offers from major production companies and actors. He truly has mastered getting slick images and filming exciting action episodes. But he seems to have lost his hold on the script writing. His recent film “The Ghost” exemplified this. It is more obvious in “Gandeevadhari Arjuna.”
One may argue that most action thrillers look the same and that the story is the least crucial aspect of such thrillers, but even with a typical storyline, one expects a gripping narrative. “Gandeevadhari Arjuna” has primarily suffered from flat narration.
Using action thriller genre tropes, the film also attempts to convey the message that rich nations use developing/underdeveloped countries as dumping sites for their poisonous garbage, thus impacting the lives of poor people. When a minister attempts to discuss this issue at a UN meeting, the corporate corporation tries to prevent him from doing so. So the protagonist is assigned the task of protecting the minister. Aside from the message, this plot is standard fare in this genre. However, Praveen Sattaru has not narrated this in engaging manner.
One of the big faults I found was a lack of sufficient character development and arc for the protagonist and other roles. For example, the minister’s brittle link with her daughter and her failed marriage with the corporate company owner don’t work at all. Even the love tale between the hero and heroine is shallow.
Varun Tej is a good fit for the part. Yes,’suited’ is the right word. Sakshi Vaidya is all right. Vimala Raman, Nasser, and Vinay Rai all perform their roles well. Mukesh’s cinematography distinguishes out among the technicians. The makers have invested a lot of money, and the aesthetics are rich.
Bottom line: “Gandeevadhari Arjuna” boasts grand visuals and Hollywood-style stunts, but the thin plot and flat narration don’t salvage it.
Rating: 2/5
By Jalapathy Gudelli
Film: Gandeevadhari Arjuna
Cast: Varun Tej, Sakshi Vaidya, Nassar, Vimala Raman, Vinay Rai, and others
Music: Mickey J Meyer
DOP: Mukesh G
Editing: Dharmendra Kakarala
Action: Lazlo, Vijay, Venkat, Juji
Presented by: Bapineedu.B
Producer: BVSN Prasad
Written and Directed by: Praveen Sattaru
Release date: August 25, 2025
