Martin: All you need to know about Dhruva Sarja actioner

The teaser of the upcoming Kannada movie Martin has caught everyone's imagination. And it could be the much-needed pan-India launch for the film's star Dhruva Sarja. The sheer size of the film's scale seems to have taken everyone by surprise. It has left many wondering if is this the next big pan-India blockbuster from the Kannada film industry. Last year, the Kannada film industry made quite an impression on movie-goers across the country with blockbusters like Yash's KGF: Chapter 2 and Rishab Shetty's Kantara. Buoyed by the reception that these films received in every part of the country, the filmmakers in Kannada cinema are now thinking on a much bigger and bolder scale. And Martin is one such effort to further capitalize on the newfound popularity of Kannada cinema. 

Not Martin, Arjun.

Many may naturally assume that the movie is named after its protagonist. However, it's not. The name of Dhruva's character in the movie is Arjun. And who's Martin? is the question that forms the main the movie's main plot. We have to watch the film to find an answer to that question.

The Pakistian's nightmare:

Martin's teaser begins with a character describing the protagonist as a "cruel man" And it turns out that the protagonist is being discussed in the war room of the Pakistan government. "What's more dangerous is he's an Indian," tells an officer in the security forces. They are talking about Arjun, the notorious man, who is brought to a high-security prison in Pakistan. Even though Arjun is in heavy shackles and chains, his presence seems to still strike a terror in the hearts of the jail authority. Dhruv, however, noted that the entire movie will not take place in Pakistan. 

Is Arjun a spy gone rouge?

Arjun in Martin seems very skilful when it comes to handling military-grade weapons. It seems the filmmakers have doubled down on stunt sequences involving heavy artillery. But, that begs a question - who is Arjun? Is an Indian spy on the run to prove his innocence? Is he on the path of vengeance? Or is he a highly skilled assassin who serves the highest bidder? 

Dhruva Sarja looks massive:

Dhruva has bulked up for his role in Martin. He has gotten so big for this movie that he could give some of the heaviest powerlifters a run for their money. In the teaser, we see Dhruva engaging in a fistfight with two strongmen towering over six feet. But, Dhruva doesn't look outmatched or outsized against them. He's just outnumbered. 

Story by Arjun Sarja:

The story of Martin was convinced by Dhruva's uncle Arjun Sarja. The seasoned star, who is a household name across south Indian states, is known as "Action King." In the 90s and early 2000s, he carved a niche for himself with his action roles. Even at 60, he maintains a good physique that lets him perform stunts in movies. Arjun is also an established writer and director. In 1994, he wrote, directed and played the lead role in Jaihind. And even today that film remains a milestone in Tamil cinema when it comes to an action movie with patriotic fervour. And Arjun has penned the story of Martin and makes one already feel excited about the movie. 

The cast:

Besides Dhruva, the movie also stars Vaibhavi Shandilya, Anveshi Jain, Chikkanna, Malavika Avinash, Achyuth Kumar, Nikitin Dheer, Nawab Shah and Rohit Pathak. 

The crew:

Martin is helmed by AP Arjun, who has also written the dialogues in the movie. It's bankrolled by Uday K Mehta under the banner Vasavi Enterprises. Stunt choreographer duo Ram-Lakshman has taken care of the action sequences in the movie. The movie's music album is composed by Mani Sharma, while Ravi Basrur of KGF fame has worked on the film's background score and sound design. Sathya Hegde has cranked the camera, and K M Prakash is editing the movie.