18th Cross

Story: The movie, released after 4 years, focuses on how a youth faces embarrassing moments after unwillingly entering the underworld. This is also Radhika Pandith’s first film.

Movie Review: Director Shankar has done a good job of a story that takes us to the underworld. With a neat script and good narration, he sustains interest till the climax with some lively sequences that take place in Malleswaram 18th Cross. While the first half has lovely romantic sequences, the second half lags a bit with slow narration.

The story has two tracks. In one, we have the hero Jeevan (Deepak), an orphan working in a workshop in 18th Cross, and falling in love with Punya (Radhika Pandith), daughter of a musician (Ramakrishna). The second half has Jeevan caught in the trap of the underworld and killing rowdies like Benne Krishna (Kari Subbu) and inspector Kote (Jeeva). Though he wants to give up rowdyism, circumstances do not allow him to do so. In the process, he also sees the death of close friend Prakasha (Bullet Prakash) at the hands of police. The rest is Jeevan’s life as a rowdy who dies in a police encounter.

Radhika Pandith hasn’t changed much since her debut movie and has given an excellent performance. Equally good is Deepak. Music by Arjun is quite good. Cinematography by PL Ravi lacks punch.