Kairam Vaashi reviews Ekka, the Kannada action drama starring Yuva Rajkumar in the lead role. Directed by Rohit Padaki and produced by Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar under PRK Productions along with Jayanna Films and KRG Studios, this film tells the story of Muttu, a good-hearted soul who transforms from an innocent village boy to a hardened criminal in Bangalore's underworld. In this detailed review for The Hollywood Reporter India, Kairam examines the film's central theme about the coexistence of a child and beast within us, while critiquing how the familiar gangster template doesn't offer enough unique elements. She discusses Yuva Rajkumar's improved performance compared to his debut, praising his emotional range while noting areas where he falls short of being fully investable as a character.
Kairam highlights the film's technical strengths, particularly Charan Raj's music composition featuring standout tracks like "Bangal Bangari" and his experimental background score, and Satya P Hegde's cinematography that captures both action sequences and emotional moments effectively. She also reviews the supporting performances, especially praising Poornachandra Mysore's energy in action sequences. The review covers how this film marks the 50th year of Vajeshwari Films and examines whether it lives up to expectations from three reputed production houses, ultimately concluding that while Ekka has solid elements, it feels like "a two-of-a-kind but not quite a royal flush.
