Duration – 148 minutes, Category – Thriller, Score – 4/5

Title – MAHIRA Producer – Vivek Kodappa, Direction – Mahesh Gowda, Cinematography – Keerthana Poojari, Music – Nilima Rao and Rakesh UP, Cast – Virginia Rodriguez, Chaitra Achar, Dilip Raj, Raj B Shetty, KS Sridhar, Balaji Manohar, Gopalakrishna Deshpande, Babu Hirannaiah, Apoorva, Soma, Shaukath Ali and others.

In the very first film materializing his dream of 2013 director Mahesh Gowda has turned out colorful, convincing, clear and circumspect. It is a terrific thriller and like how Kannada filmdom has got a diligent director, we have got a stunner in Virginia Rodriguez. Virginia in her debut is the cynosure of all eyes in this film. She has beaten other action heroines in Kannada cinema in her first film.

Coming to ‘Mahira’ concept and screenplay, it is very engaging and wholesome entertainer. Debut producer from London Vivek Kodappa has taken right decision. His friend Mahesh Gowda has lived up to the expectations. Kudos to the whole team – cheers for a terrific thriller.

She is Maaya – tall and serene in looks. Often she gets worries in her face at the beach side hotel that she is managing for living with her daughter Adya (Chaitra Achar). Adya is given a good tutelage and in college she is bold and straightforward. She goes to the extent of beating his batch mate. That in fact a fodder for the social media and a journalist turns up for an interview of this bold girl Adya.

The trouble shoots up now. As the interview of Adya is printed with her mother Maaya photo – too much happens in the forthcoming scenes. We get to know Maaya is none other than Devaki – undercover officer of Indian Intelligence Department. She is in possession of a particular data that helps the department in countering terrorism.

Is it true that Maya alias Devaki is in possession of the data? You have to watch very engaging coming one hour on screen. How Devaki and her husband Kishor (Dilip Raj) were able to counter Tousif and gang. What happened later in the life of Devaki is very brilliantly handled.

The emergence of Pratap in IID in fact is a good support to Devaki at large. How the charges on Devaki comes clean, the terrorist gang on the other hand conniving with the police department passing strong disturbance comes out for a climax. You would know what ‘Hira’ is and before that you would have known what is ‘Ma’ in this CINEMA!

It is brilliant performance from Virginia Rodriguez. Stunt from Chetan D Souza for Virginia is a big boost of the film. Virginia would get more action roles in the coming days.

Chaitra Achar is a good choice (she was selected after audition of 46 for the role). She is sweet, bubbly and talented.

Dilip Raj is in his usual best, KS Sridhar is apt, MK Matha has right pick, Balaji Manohar is a treat to watch, Raj B Shetty giving two shades wins the hearts.

One song in the beginning on mother and daughter and later at the end is well conceived by duo music directors. Keerthan Poojari has given his best to the visual treat of audiences. Editing could have been a little crisper!

It is no doubt a good treat to watch. Go with your family for this MAHIRA.