Kannada cinema does not often venture into the territory of technology-driven thrillers. Lambodhara 2.0 is an attempt to do just that, taking up a subject that is increasingly relevant to our times: our growing dependence on technology and the possibility of our emotions being monitored, manipulated and even controlled by it.
Set in urban Bengaluru, the film revolves around Avyakta (Anil Shetty), a hacker whose life takes an unexpected turn when he gets drawn into a game promising to deliver happiness. The concept of a wearable device that monitors emotions and quantifies happiness provides the film with an interesting starting point. What begins as an apparently harmless technological innovation gradually reveals a much more disturbing agenda.
The narrative brings together hacking, artificial intelligence, romance, dating and the nightlife of Bengaluru. The familiar cityscape, with its tech-savvy youth and urban hotspots, gives the film a contemporary identity. There is an attempt to speak directly to a generation that is constantly connected, yet often struggles to find genuine happiness and meaningful human relationships.
Simple Suni deserves credit for moving away from the romantic comedies he is known for and experimenting with a genre that demands a different sensibility. The film has several interesting ideas, and its central question; can technology really measure or manufacture happiness? is worth exploring. The presence of AI avatars (Krishna) and JIA, the humanoid robot, adds novelty to the proceedings.
Kunal Kapoor makes a strong impression as Raghav Kashyap, bringing the necessary polish and menace to a character with a larger agenda. Saachi Bindra is a pleasant presence, while the supporting cast, including Raghu Ramanakoppa and Meghana Gaonkar, contribute to the narrative. Veer Samarth’s music and Santosh Rai Pathaje’s cinematography help establish the film’s distinct urban and technological atmosphere.
The film’s biggest limitation, however, lies in its central character. Avyakta is the pivot around which the entire story revolves, and the role requires considerable screen presence to make the character compelling. Anil Shetty has clearly invested himself in the project, having taken on the responsibilities of writing and producing it as well. But his performance does not always bring the depth and natural ease that the character demands. A more experienced and familiar face in the lead could perhaps have given the film greater emotional connect and helped its ambitious premise reach a wider audience.
The screenplay also has its uneven stretches. The technical concepts and coded conversations may be engaging for viewers familiar with the digital world, but they occasionally make the narrative less accessible to a general audience. Some portions could have been tighter, and the film takes time to find the right balance between its thriller elements and its social message. The final act, despite its ambition, could have been more convincing.
For a film industry that is often accused of playing safe, such experiments deserve encouragement. Lambodhara 2.0 is not a completely successful execution of a promising idea, but it is certainly a step in an interesting direction.
Film: Lambodhara 2.0 Director: Simple Suni Cast: Anil Shetty, Saachi Bindra, Raghu Ramanakoppa, Kunal Kapoor, Mac Dsouza Certificate: UA13+ Duration: 137 minutes Stars: 3/5
