Return of the Dragon Movie Review

Ashwath Marimuthu made the hit film Oh My Kadavule which made him a very popular director in Tamil. He is now back with his new film Return of the Dragon featuring Pradeep Ranganathan and Anupama Parameswaran as the main leads. The Telugu version is out now and read our review here.

Plot

Dragon (Pradeep Ranganathan) fails 48 subjects in engineering and faces a brutal breakup with his girlfriend (Anupama Parameswaran). Using fake certificates, he lands a high-paying software job and finds a wealthy girl to settle down with. However, his college principal uncovers the fraud and gives him an ultimatum, return to college, earn a real degree, or face ruin. Left with no choice, Dragon is forced back to campus. The film follows his journey of redemption as he confronts his past and cleans up his mess.

Performances

One of the biggest highlights of Love Today was Pradeep Ranganathan’s performance. His unique look and body language are highly relatable to today’s youth, and the same holds in Return of the Dragon. Pradeep’s desperate attempt to achieve success and his reckless approach to life are superbly portrayed by the director-turned-actor. With the entire film centered around him, Pradeep does not disappoint.

Anupama Parameswaran plays a supporting role and doesn’t have much to do in the film. Director Mysskin, who plays the college principal, is quite effective and adds a fresh dimension to Return of the Dragon. Kayadu Lohar, who plays the hero’s fiancée, delivers a solid performance. The rest of the cast is satisfactory.

Technical Aspects

Leon James composed the music, and while the songs aren’t particularly impressive, he elevates the film with a solid background score. The tense moments are effectively enhanced by Leon’s powerful music. Ashwath Marimuthu’s story is strong, highlighting how there are no shortcuts in life and the consequences of a young student choosing the wrong path to success. The film also delivers a meaningful message towards the end. The production values are commendable, and the cinematography effectively captures the IT and college backdrop. The Telugu dubbing is also well done.

Positives

Basic storyline
Pradeep Ranganathan’s performance
Climax

Negatives

Slow pace
Runtime
Lag in scenes

Analysis

Aswath Marimuthu is known for unique concepts, and Return of the Dragon is no exception. The idea of a successful young man, ready for marriage, being forced back to college to complete his degree is a novel and intriguing premise. Though the film is lengthy, it effectively portrays how the protagonist lands himself in deep trouble by using fake certificates to climb the ladder of success. This conflict point is fresh and rarely explored in films.

However, the director takes too long to establish it. The narrative spends excessive time on the hero’s idle lifestyle, dependence on friends, unethical job acquisition, and office life. These aspects, while relevant, slow down the pacing and make certain portions feel tedious. Had the film been trimmed to under two and a half hours, it would have been much more impactful.

While the climax is strong, it feels unnecessarily dragged. The hero’s confrontation appears somewhat forced, and his transformation is rushed and lacks organic development. However, the film does offer several entertaining moments, particularly in the college and IT company settings, which keep the audience engaged.

Despite a few flaws, Return of the Dragon has its share of endearing moments. The lead pair’s love story could have been developed further, and the second heroine’s character lacks proper closure, as the film focuses more on delivering its message. Still, Pradeep Ranganathan delivers a stellar performance, making this film a passable watch for its theme and decent comedy.

Bottom Line: A Fun Ride That Could Have Been Tighter

Rating: 2.5/5