max, Vijay Karthikeya’s first collaboration with Sudeep wins big on the novelty factor. The story of one night unfolding over minimal locations seems odd for a star film. It was encouraging to see Sudeep experimenting with the script. The film balanced its unconventional story with whistle-worthy moments for fans.
with Mark, It was expected that the actor-director duo would go a notch higher. Although it is far from a forgettable film, Mark falls short Maximum. Although unfair, the comparison is inevitable. In both the films, he plays a hot-headed policeman. Apart from the similar-sounding titles, the plots of both films unfold within 24 hours.
Additionally, with Mark, Vijay Karthikeya shows that his team can make an action-thriller film shot at various locations within 4-5 months. However, the film fails to provide an engaging experience. The film also has several subplots and characters, but they exist only to distract us from the thin story.
Mark (Kannada)
Director: Vijay Karthikeya
Mould: Sudeep, Naveen Chandra, Yogi Babu, Shine Tom Chacko, Roshni Prakash, Gopalkrishna Deshpande
Runtime: 144 minutes
Story: Ajay Markandey, a suspended police officer, rises up against anti-social elements, gangsters and corrupt politicians. When a dire situation arises, he must confront these forces to restore justice.
Suspended, maverick policeman Ajay Markandey springs into action when he learns that children are being kidnapped in the city. Also included in the mix is ​​a corrupt politician, a gangster family and a drug dealer who is eyeing the CM’s chair.
On paper, the world of Mark Seems to be pulpy enough for an action-thriller. However, the film follows the template of a one-man show, with Sudeep’s character effortlessly defeating the villains at every turn. The twists are never shocking, people die and get stabbed in the back without making much of an impact on the audience, and many of the characters are not intertwined to make for an interesting drama.
Surprisingly, Sudeep plays a subdued character, lacking energy and mass appeal. Apart from some powerful dialogues and a brilliantly choreographed climax action sequence, Ajay Markandey does not create the frenzy required for the character of a ‘masala’ hero.
It is the technicians who keep Mark Apart from the peppy dance numbers, Ajaneesh Loknath wins big with his entertaining background score. Shekhar Chandra’s cinematography complements the fiery nature of the film, while Shivakumar’s art direction is a major strength of the film.
A major complaint is the film’s casting, which features actors from the Tamil film industry in important roles. Although a talented actor, his inability to speak Kannada has clearly affected his performance.
Also Read: ‘The Devil’: Director Prakash Veer on the challenges of making Darshan’s action-thriller
Naveen Chandra gets a one-note character who is always shouting at the top of his voice, while Yogi Babu’s dry wit is half as effective because of the dubbed voice. Vikrant gets an important role, but it is presented in a dull manner. Shine Tom Chacko looks out of place as a corrupt politician. However, Guru Somasundaram, in a quirky character, is a joy to watch.
Mark It also manipulates emotions by using children, an old trend that commercial cinema should abandon. A stylish and daring effort, Mark It falls short still as its attempt to pull off a quick film fails due to a run-of-the-mill script.
Mark is currently playing in theaters
published – December 25, 2025 02:51 PM IST