Television favorite and celebrated anchor Suma Kanakala has been steadily paving the way for her son Roshan Kanakala in the Telugu film industry. After a lukewarm debut with Bubblegum, Roshan returns with his second cinematic venture, Mowgli, directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Sandeep Raj of Color Photo fame. Boasting a unique forest backdrop, catchy songs, and intriguing teasers, the film sparked curiosity much before its release today.
Story
Mowgli follows the journey of an orphan named Mowgli (Roshan Kanakala) who grows up in a forest, enduring ridicule but holding tight to his dream of becoming a police officer like his late father. Together with his friend Bunty (Viva Harsha), he supplies junior artists for film shoots that take place around the forest.
During one such shoot, Mowgli meets Jasmine (Sakshi Madolkar), a mute and hearing-impaired dancer. When the lead actors fail to show up, the pair improvise and act out a scene themselves — sparking romance between them.
Trouble soon arrives when a film producer takes a special interest in Jasmine and plots to separate the lovers. Matters worsen with the arrival of S.I. Christopher Nolan (Bandi Saroj Kumar), a corrupt officer with predatory intentions toward Jasmine. When Mowgli intervenes, Nolan retaliates by framing him in false cases, forcing our hero into a fight for justice and love.
Performances
Roshan Kanakala shows marked growth in his acting abilities, delivering a sincere and emotionally grounded performance. His portrayal of Mowgli carries maturity and determination, hinting at his potential for more demanding roles. Sakshi Madolkar offers a refreshing presence, managing to convey depth despite the absence of dialogue due to her character’s impairment.
Bandi Saroj Kumar’s antagonist is powerful and commanding, at times reminiscent of Sudeep’s villainous flair. Viva Harsha brings welcome comic relief and an unexpectedly touching emotional arc towards the end. Supporting roles serve their purpose without leaving a strong mark.
Behind the Scenes
Director Sandeep Raj attempts to weave an unconventional love story set amid a film-shooting zone in the forest. The backdrop is visually appealing, and the premise — two orphaned souls connecting in extraordinary circumstances — is initially promising.
The cinematography offers several “wow” shots, clearly benefitting from high production values courtesy of T.G. Vishwa Prasad and Kriti Prasad under the People’s Media Factory banner. Music by Kaala Bhairava impresses more in the form of the background score than the songs themselves, elevating key scenes with emotional resonance.
Unfortunately, the screenplay fails to maintain momentum. The plot relies on familiar tropes without delivering fresh conflict or compelling twists. The pacing suffers noticeably, with entire sequences feeling stretched or aimless. Editing inconsistencies disrupt the narrative flow, and certain subplots — including the forced inclusion of devotional elements and an illogical villain motivation — feel out of place.
Action sequences lack impact, and the climax leans heavily on clichés, even evoking memories of early 2000s Telugu films.
Final Verdict
Mowgli is a film that wins on visual grandeur and sincere performances but struggles under the weight of a thin, predictable script and inconsistent execution. Roshan Kanakala’s dedication to his role is evident, and the technical polish from People’s Media Factory is commendable. Yet without a stronger narrative backbone, the film never fully delivers on its intriguing premise.
For Roshan, Mowgli isn’t quite the breakout role he may have hoped for. Here’s wishing his next project pairs his growing talent with a script that does justice to his potential.
