Nataraja Service

Nataraja, a petty and unsuccessful thief, dreams of the good life. Sahana, whose horoscope has branded her as an ill omen (lathhe), craves for true love. The two end up meeting each other when both are on the run from danger. What happens next?

One of the biggest plus points of Pavan Wadeyar's Nataraja Service is the fact that it is under two hours of screen time. But, the pace of the screenplay, sadly, makes the film seem much longer than that. The film, as such, is strung together by two plots with a wafer thin thread. The story in totality is quite predictable, with some of the dialogues seeming two decades too late at least.

What keeps the film chugging along, despite its pace, is the performance of the two leads. Sharan entertains in his trademark style, trying to ensure his impeccable comic timing salvages some rather tasteless humour at times. Mayuri, who has impressed with her two releases thus far, follows it up with another good act with her theatrics and expressions. The lead pair have a rather interesting and quirky chemistry that keeps helps the viewers' minds from wandering off the screen at most times.

The story by Pavan seems interesting on paper, but the rather inconsistent pace of the narrative plays the dampener. This film, though, has its moments that entertains the gallery. If you're a Sharan fan, this could interest you for a viewing. Be warned, though, of the lethargic treatment. The songs by J Anoop Seelin are a bonus for the viewers, especially P Ravi Shankar's dancing act in the already famous Allah Allah track.