Kshetrapathi Twitter review: Naveen Shankar is the Uttara Karnataka huli, declare audiences

Debutant Shrikant Katagi’s film about farmer issues has received mixed reviews, but leading man Naveen is getting a lot of praise

Naveen Shankar in a still from the film

Kannada actor Naveen Shankar’s good form with great characters continues with this week’s release Kshetrapathi, it would seem. The film, directed by debutant Shrikant Katagi has audiences singing praises of the leading man. However, the same cannot be said about the film, with mixed reviews pouring in. According to the reports on social media, Kshetrapathi had great potential, but then lost its way. Did the team perhaps overthink and ruin the film’s prospects? Naveen had, after all, told media after the teaser launch that they were still looking at ways to make the film better and had scheduled patchwork shoot schedules with only weeks to go for its theatrical outing. While that remains something for the team of Kshetrapathi to figure out, what audiences are loving is Naveen’s outing as Basava.

Read our review: Kshetrapati review: Naveen Shankar's film is well-meaning, but feels over sentimental

Set in north Karnataka, Kshetrapathi follows the crises plaguing the farmers’ community and the leading man’s fight to get them what is rightfully theirs. Describing Naveen’s acting as “benki”, most audiences also felt that the actor, who hails from the north of the state is the best suited for the title of Uttara Karnataka huli, which they’ve shortened to UK huli. Kshetrapathi is Naveen’s first solo hero film since his claim to fame Gultoo. His last three releases, Dharani Mandala Madhyadolage, Hondisi Bareyiri and Gurudev Hoysala have all fetched him positive reviews from audiences, making him one of the most promising talents to look out for in the Kannada film industry. And while Naveen’s performance in Kshetrapathi cannot be faulted, audiences do feel that he deserved a better film as leading man.

Read also: Archana Jois: I enjoy the KGF-fame tag, but it’s time to move on and Kshetrapathi is a step in that direction

The actor’s next, meanwhile, will have him team up with Danish Sait for a film called Kirik’et 11, which will be the fourth production venture for KRG Studios. Although the film is about cricket, the makers say that it will be high on comedy as well.

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