Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana is a Kannda crime-thriller film directed by Raj B Shetty and starring Raj B Shetty, Rishab Shetty, and Gopal Krishna Deshpande, alongside other cast members. The movie has a runtime of 150 minutes.
Zee5 describes the movie as:
In the coastal city of Mangaluru, best friends Shiva and Hari go on to become two of the most dreaded gangsters in the city. Can their long-standing friendship survive their greed and ego?
– Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana review does not contain spoilers –
Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana is a bloody and disturbing story. Not in the best of ways though, but it’s definitely an uncomfortable and disturbing watch. Shiva’s return from death in the first half of the movie to him walking around alone and destitute to the last sequence, covered in mud, blood and a whole lot more, is somewhat of a heartbreaking as well as a horrifying watch. The first time the unresponsive Shiva reacts to something, it’s filled with years of rage and resentment.
Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana discusses how people’s pasts shape their present and future. It’s true for nations as it is true for people. We are who we are thanks to our violent pasts and the movie, too, showcases that. It also showcases how absolutely despicable and vile people, especially men, can be. Neither Hari nor Shiva are really good people, actually, they are the worst of the lot. But somewhere you understand their anger, especially Shiva’s. You feel for these characters even though you know you shouldn’t.
Anger. That’s also a keyword in Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana. The movie knows how potent anger and rage can be and showcases how that shapes people’s lives. You feel Shiva’s anger bubbling on the surface and whether he is a child taking it in or an adult taking no shit from those around him, the anger he feels towards people around him is evident. Apart from him, there are others whose angers shape the movie and what happens around them. It’s an interesting watch, especially how these circumstances encased in rage and violence change who these people are fundamentally. Among all this hatred, though, is the camaraderie between Shiva and Hari.
Also Read: Human (2022) Review: Shefali Shah and Kirti Kulhari’s Medical Thriller Is an Acting Masterclass
Brotherhood. That’s something that the movie also focuses on. It’s not new, a movie like this will always have a touch of brotherhood in the mix. It’s a patent in gang movies with intense violent sequences – there’s always this angle of extreme feelings of brotherhood among some or all of the members. That’s true here too. The movie explores this angle well, with Hari and Shiva growing up and getting into all kinds of business together. Their relationship is one of the tender parts of the film, albeit drenched in violence. But, will their relationship survive the test of time? That’s something that only the movie can answer.
Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana isn’t a good movie, story-wise. It’s nothing new and the story is all over the place. But the movie is extremely watchable. So much so that the gaps in logic don’t really matter. It has an infectious feel to it, one that will keep you glued to the screen. The violence probably draws the eyes in but it’s also, I feel, thanks to Raj B. Shetty’s haunting portrayal of Shiva. He’s just so scary to watch and Shetty brings the viciousness of Shiva forth extremely well.
Summing up: Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana
Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana isn’t what you’d call a cinematic masterpiece. But it is extremely watchable. There are topics that the movie tackles that have been showcased in several other movies, so there’s nothing new here. But, it’s charming and bloody enough for a one-time watch. The length of the film becomes a hindrance in the viewing experience though, and you’d be very much aware of how long it is after a while. That being said though, the movie has enough substance to keep you occupied for the most part.
Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana is streaming on Zee5.
Also Read: Skylab (2021) Review: Nithya Menen Stars in Emotional Rollercoaster Ride