SORGAVASAL MOVIE REVIEW

SORGAVASAL is a prison drama film inspired from the 1999 prison riot, directed by Sidharth Vishwanath in his debut, and produced by Swipe Right Studios, together with Think Studios. RJ Balaji is on a high having recently signed up Surya for his next directorial venture and now in SORGAVASAL he has attempted something new that is totally alien to the roles that he has played thus far.

SORGAVASAL grabs your attention from the word go, throwing you straight into its narrative without wasting a moment. The first half is like a finely cooked meal—rich in flavour, well-paced, and garnished with thoughtful moments. It lays down a strong foundation with its gripping story, setting up the characters with care and building anticipation. The occasional pearls of wisdom dropped here and there add a layer of depth, but instead of hitting you with profound realizations, they come off as polite suggestions—nice, but not groundbreaking. The plot in the first half feels cohesive, and there’s a sense of direction that hooks you. Parallel storylines run smoothly, offering a peek into the lives of the characters. Full marks to the writer for sketching out these characters well—each one has something unique to contribute, and they feel real and relatable, at least in the beginning. But then comes the dreaded second half.

What starts as a promising narrative unravels into chaos. Imagine trying to stuff everything from a buffet plate into a small lunchbox—that’s the second half. With too many elements jostling for space, the story loses its grip. The pacing turns frantic, and the earlier cohesiveness vanishes, leaving behind fragments that don’t connect as they should. Characters that initially seemed intense and multi-dimensional start to feel flat and underutilized. And then you are left with a predictable and underwhelming finale to heighten the disillusionment.
Performance-wise, RJ Balaji’s is a downer. His attempts to fit into the role feel laboured and awkward, making you wish someone else had stepped into his shoes. On the brighter side, Karunas delivers a decent performance. Selvaraghavan’s character, though promising, lacks the intensity needed to leave a lasting impression. The rest of the cast do their jobs well enough, but no one’s performance truly stands out.
The technical aspects provide some saving grace. Prince Anderson’s cinematography captures the mood and setting effectively without going overboard. Christo Xavier’s background score hits the right notes, creating the desired impact in crucial scenes, even when the script falters. Dialogues work in parts, with a few lines standing out, but the writing as a whole doesn’t quite rise to the occasion. Editing by Selva is functional but fails to lend the narrative the polish and sharpness it desperately needs.For a debutant director, this is a decent effort, but it’s clear that they’ve bitten off more than they can chew. Balancing a complex story with multiple layers and characters requires finesse and restraint—qualities that are missing in the latter half of SORGAVASAL.

SORGAVASAL stumbles after a strong start!!

SORGAVASAL – SORVU !!

B.U.Shreesha