U Turn Review

U Turn Review, What’s Behind:

Samantha is in full swing with consecutive super hits. This time she is coming up with female-centric suspense thriller U Turn, a remake of Kannada hit with same title. The film also stars Rahul Ravindran, Aadhi Pinisetty in key roles. Director Pawan Kumar stated that he changed climax from the original. So, those who watched U Turn original version too are waiting eagerly to know how different and thrilling climax of this remake version has.

U Turn Story Review:

Crime reporter Rachana (Samantha) with help of her colleague Aditya (Rahul Ravindran) is preparing an article on incidents at RK Puram flyover where motorists displace concrete blocks on a portion of road to take a quick U Turn to avoid a lengthy one way traffic and they are devoid of civic, traffic sense. Unexpectedly, Rachana is arrested as prime suspect in death of a motorist who took U Turn on this flyover. Inspector Nayak (Aadhi Pinisetty) who initially doubts Rachana’s role in this killing later tries to help her in investigation wherein it's inferred that all those who took wrong U Turn on the flyover ended their lives by committing suicide on same day. As mystery behind these suicides continues, Rachana takes a bold decision of getting herself into the case by deliberately taking a wrong U Turn. What happens next? What is the real motive behind this whole mystery?

U Turn Artists, Technicians Review:

Director Pawan Kaumar is known as an enlightened, intelligent writer and a talented filmmaker. His previous film Lucia stood terrific hit and then U Turn did wonders at Kannada Box Office. So as not to spoil the soul of original, he didn’t make many changes to script except for alteration in the climax. Although movie starts on slow note, it picks up by interval and then ends with disappointing climax. However, the technical team helped Pawan by giving their best. Sound design by Poorna Chandra Tejaswi and cinematography by Niketh Bommireddy are in perfect tone for a slow thriller. Suresh Armugan editing is tedious. Production values of VY Combines and Srinivasas Silver Screen are high in standard.

Onto artists, Samantha is undeniably the show stealer. She is truly a perfectionist and one will only notice the character Rachana but not the star Sam. She is too good in few key scenes like the one where a lawyer commits suicide in front of her and the dream where truth behind the killings is elaborated, Sam looked terrific. Aadhi Pinisetty is perfect for the police officer role and he is other big asset. Rahul Ravindran is a charmer but he didn’t get space. Bhumika made her presence felt in a brief role. Other artists are okay.

U Turn Review Advantages:

Story

Samantha, Aadhi

Music

Camera

Interval

U Turn Review Drawbacks:

Slow Take Off

Sick Second Half

Climax

Slow Narrative

Unconvincing Evil Soul

U Turn Review Rating Analysis:

We in our daily routine violate civic rules and commit mistakes. But few of them cannot be taken for granted. Such mistakes may turn fatal for others. For example, we drive vehicles in wrong direction and remove blocks on road to save a few minutes in traffic. U Turn is all about how such silly issues ruin an entire family and there is a social message to take home. But how far such story lines can make a full length feature film or short film is a benefit of doubt question. 

Movie begins with the theme explanation of moved concrete divider blocks on a flyover to create a wrong U Turn. Introducing Samanta and her mom in a lengthy auto conversation is unneeded for. Things move very slow and uninformative manner until the occurrence of an unexpected incident in parallel with a romantic track ran between Sam and Rahul working in same newspaper. Probing Samantha as prime suspect in a suicide case also showed political pressures on high level police officials, which of course has no link with main plot. Investigation turns interestingly riveting with Aadhi's entry. Narrative pace picks up beautifully as the big mystery of all those persons who took wrong U Turn are no more alive. Pre-interval episode of lawyer committing suicide in front of Sam and Aadhi is bang on. Interval throws many questions about the mysterious flyover and second promises to be more interesting.

In fact, the latter half begins on lethargic note till the point where two youngsters imprisoned for breaking the same U Turn eventually end in police custody. This episode is deftly handled to raise the thrill quotient. Then Samantha herself opting to go on a wrong U Turn for cracking the mystery opens the doors for next proceedings. Horror scenes hereon are unconvincing and disappointing. Core excitement dries up gradually when movie comes to an dissatisfied climax.

All in all, U Turn is a safe film with sparse thrill elements and riveting at times. Had Pawan Kumar come up with a different pre-climax, climax without including horror setup, result could have been different. U Turn is not a film for all sections of audience. It may fare better in multiplexes. CJ goes with 2.75 stars and recommends for a one time watch for those who haven't watched the original.