The much-anticipated Kannada multistarrer film '45', directed by Arjun Janya, arrived in theatres on 24 December 2025 with significant hype. Marketed as a visually spectacular venture with Hollywood-grade effects, the film has left audiences and critics largely disappointed, earning a modest two-star rating.
Promised Grandeur vs. Visual Reality
One of the film's biggest selling points was its claim of featuring visual effects amplified by an Oscar-winning team from Hollywood. This promise set high expectations for a cinematic spectacle. However, the final product fails to deliver on this front. Critics and viewers have noted that the VFX ranges from underwhelming to, in several instances, outright shabby. The gap between the promised visual richness and the actual on-screen execution is stark, becoming a major point of criticism.
Auditory Overload and Musical Mediocrity
Beyond the visual shortcomings, the film's soundscape has also come under fire. The background score is reported to be excessively loud for a large portion of the film's runtime, often overpowering scenes rather than enhancing them. The auditory experience does little to salvage the narrative. Furthermore, the musical numbers, a staple of Indian cinema, are described as merely passable, failing to leave a lasting impression or provide the emotional or energetic lift the story needs.
Star Power Cannot Save a Shaky Narrative
The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast led by veteran stars Upendra, Raj B Shetty, and Shivarajkumar. Despite their collective talent and screen presence, they are unable to anchor the film's core weakness: its narrative. The premise of '45' was intriguing and held potential, but the execution is shaky. The plot fails to build a compelling or coherent journey, leaving the stellar cast with little substantive material to work with. The direction by Arjun Janya, while ambitious in scope, struggles to weave the various elements into a satisfying whole.
In conclusion, '45' stands as a cautionary tale of ambition outpacing execution. While the idea of a high-concept multistarrer with global technical collaboration is appealing, the film falters in its most fundamental aspects—visual effects, sound design, and storytelling. For fans of the lead actors, it may offer moments of enjoyment, but as a complete cinematic package, it fails to live up to its own billing. The review published on 24 December 2025 encapsulates this widespread sentiment of missed opportunity.
