DUDE
Summary
Dude begins strong as a fun-filled youth romance with quirky moments, strong chemistry between the leads and a breezy first half that keeps you engaged. Pradeep Ranganathan brings his signature energy to the role of Agan, and Mamitha Baiju complements him well.
Movie Review
I watched Dude recently on its opening weekend, and if I had to sum up my feelings in one sentence, it would be: “A fun ride that runs out of steam once the destination shifts.” From the very start, the film keeps you smiling. There’s a comfort in the familiarity of the set-up: two childhood friends, Agan and Kuralarasi, are inseparable, share jokes, plan events together, run a business of surprises and yet remain friends. Pradeep Ranganathan’s Agan is loud, brash, yet lovable — the kind of guy you root for even when he’s being obnoxious. Mamitha Baiju’s Kural is charming, grounded and there is an under-current of emotion between them that you sense even when it’s unspoken. The film uses that unspoken tension well in the early scenes: their banter, the tiny jokes, the comfort they share. It feels real.
The first half uses that foundation to great effect. There are sequences where Agan tries to hide his feelings, Kural pushes the boundaries between friendship and more, and all this is done with light touches of humour and charm. The film’s pace in this section is crisp — the dialogue rings with youth energy, the settings (event-planning gigs, weddings, friend groups) are relatable and the visuals are bright. The chemistry between the leads is a highlight: you believe their comfort, you believe their awkwardness, and you believe that buried possibility of something more. For a good sixty minutes or so, I was genuinely enjoying what the film offered. I laughed, I nodded, I recognised elements of friendships I’ve seen around me. There’s also a level of modernity: the film speaks about women’s choices, the right to love, and social pressures in a breezy way early on. This gives the rom-com more depth than many others.
But then the film changes gear: somewhere after the interval, the tone becomes heavier. The storyline introduces Athiyamaan (Sarath Kumar) — Kural’s father, a politician with a dark past, caste issues and power dynamics. The narrative pivots into issues of honour, betrayal, family reputation and sacrifice. It’s ambitious, and the film deserves credit for trying. However, this shift also sort of derails the momentum the early part built. Some turns feel forced: Agan’s sacrificial choices begin to pile up, the stakes escalate, the earlier breezy tone gives way to melodrama. What could have been an emotional elevation ends up feeling heavy. The transitions feel less smooth. The audience is no longer just enjoying jokes or romantic beats but is now being asked to process heavy social themes and abrupt emotional shocks. Reviewers have pointed this out as one of the film’s weaknesses.
Because of this shift, my engagement wavered. I found myself going along with the film, but at times thinking: “Why is this happening now? Didn’t we just laugh a moment ago?” There are moments of brilliance — Pradeep in emotional scenes shows range beyond his usual comic persona; Mamitha in the latter half when pushed into conflict shows genuine depth; Sarath Kumar brings a powerful presence as the authoritative father figure with his own contradictions. The music by Sai Abhyankkar continues to elevate key scenes, and the cinematography keeps things visually pleasing. These technical details help the film stay afloat despite the narrative stumbles.
Still, there are issues. The second half has multiple threads: Kural’s changed feelings, Agan’s loyalty meltdown, political power plays, threats and sacrifice. These are all potent themes individually; together, they crowd the story. Some subplots (for example Neha Shetty’s character) feel undercooked. Why did certain characters behave the way they did? The motivations become fuzzy. The consequence is that by the time the climax arrives, the emotional punch isn’t as strong as it could have been. I wouldn’t say it’s bad — far from it — but it’s disappointing because I felt promise was higher.
A good ride that loses some of its grip in the second half. Still worth watching for the leads, the fun early moments and the honest portrayal of friendship and hidden love.
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