Balaramana Dinagalu

Eighteen years after Aa Dinagalu, director KM Chaitanya returns to Bengaluru's underworld, but this time he is not interested in the men who ruled it. He asks a more unsettling question: who created them in the first place?

Balaramana Dinagalu opens with weapons smuggled into the jail, hidden inside masala doses. For those familiar with Bengaluru's underworld, it is clear this is not a completely fictional film, adding an extra layer of intrigue to what follows.

Vinod Prabhakar delivers a largely effective performance as Balarama.

Vinod Prabhakar delivers what is arguably the most mature and restrained performance of his career as the titular Balarama.

He makes us feel for the character, and is quite impressive in the final portions of the movie, where Balarama struggles to break free from the underworld’s trap.

Santhosh Narayanan's music and background score shine during several key moments, adding emotional depth and enhancing the film's atmosphere, even if they don't remain equally effective throughout.