The tale of heartbreak and transformation is one that has been woven into the fabric of Bollywood, with films like ‘Devdas’ and ‘Raanjhanaa’ leaving an indelible mark on audiences. Now, in a lighthearted and entertaining take, the Tamil film ‘Dragon’ starring Pradeep Ranganathan, joins the ranks. Following the success of his previous film ‘Love Today’, which was remade in Hindi as ‘Luv hashtable’ starring Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor, Pradeep Ranganathan’s ‘Dragon’ has already garnered 140 crores in Tamil and is now being released in Hindi as ‘Return of the Dragon’.
The Story of ‘Return of the Dragon’
The narrative revolves around D Raghavan, played by Pradeep Ranganathan, an ideal student who scores 96 percent in his 12th standard and dreams of settling down in the US with his crush. However, his world is turned upside down when the girl rejects him, citing her preference for ‘bad boys’ over ‘good boys’. This heartbreak sparks a transformation, as Raghavan sets out to become the college’s most notorious bad boy, earning him the moniker ‘Dragon’. Along the way, he finds love in the form of Keerthi, played by Anupama Parameswaran, but his rebellious ways cost him his engineering degree.
As Dragon, Raghavan gets suspended from college with 48 arrears, but he couldn’t care less, until Keerthi, exhausted by his irresponsible attitude, decides to leave him. This prompts Raghavan to turn his life around and become a successful individual, complete with a high-paying job, a home, a car, and a wealthy fiancée, Pallavi, played by Kayadu Lohar. However, a mistake from his past forces him to return to college to clear his arrears and secure his degree. Will Raghavan be able to overcome this seemingly insurmountable challenge, and how will it impact his life? To find out, you’ll have to watch the film.
Trailer of ‘Return of the Dragon’
‘Return of the Dragon’ Movie Review
Directed and written by Ashwath Marimuthu, this film attempts to deliver a lighthearted, entertaining narrative with a valuable lesson. While it boasts some engaging twists and a few entertaining moments, the story feels overly dragged out. Specifically, the first half’s events struggle to resonate with the audience. The transformation of the protagonist, D Raghavan, aka Dragon, and his shift in personality and thoughts following his heartbreak, fails to evoke a strong connection.
The film only starts to connect with the viewer in the second half, but by then, it’s too late. This criticism also extends to Pradeep’s acting, which comes across as loud and over-the-top in his portrayal of the college’s bad boy, but improves as his character becomes more serious in the latter half. Anupama as Keerthi and Kayadu as Pallavi deliver commendable performances, although their characters lack depth.
Other notable performances come from Miskin as the college principal, Gautam Vasudev Menon as the boss, and George Maryan as Raghavan’s father, Dhanpal. Technically, Niketh Bommireddy’s cinematography is noteworthy, while Pradeep E Raghav’s editing and Leon James’s music show room for improvement.
Why Watch It? If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted, entertaining film with a good message, consider giving ‘Return of the Dragon’ a chance.