The film centers on Vijayashanti’s character and her son Arjun (played by Kalyan Ram), an aspiring IPS officer.
Cast: Vijayashanti, Kalyan Ram, Srikant, Sohel Khan, Saiee Manjrekar, and others
Director: Pradeep Chilukuri
Rating: 2/5 stars
Veteran actress Vijayashanti earned her "Lady Superstar" title with her iconic cop role in Kartavyam 1990, but Arjun S/o Vyjayanthi proves that lightning doesn’t strike twice. Director Pradeep Chilkuri attempts to recreate that magic in 2025, but the result is a worn-out revenge saga that feels stuck in the past.
The film centers on Vijayashanti’s character and her son Arjun (played by Kalyan Ram), an aspiring IPS officer. However, fate throws them onto opposing paths. Their ideological differences drive a wedge between them, setting the stage for a mother-son conflict that could have been emotionally powerful—but instead feels formulaic and uninspired.
Once the premise is set, the rest of the screenplay unfolds with predictable twists and tired tropes. In a cinematic landscape now dominated by morally ambiguous anti-heroes (KGF, Animal), Arjun’s slow and painfully justified descent into vigilantism feels exhausting. Add in a generic subplot involving local smugglers and a prison-break scenario with a stereotypical terrorist (Sohel Khan), and you've got a narrative that drags instead of grips.
Kalyan Ram punches his way through hordes of goons in over-the-top action sequences, but none of it evokes excitement—they're choreographed by the book, lacking freshness or emotional weight. Saiee Manjrekar, playing Arjun’s dutiful wife, is reduced to a mere prop, with little to no character development.
Director Chilkuri seems intent on showcasing Kalyan Ram's heroism through a barrage of villains and action set pieces, but the emotional core—his fight to protect a poverty-stricken colony—feels repetitive and uninspired. Even Vijayashanti, despite her commanding presence and fiery performance, can't salvage the film's dated storytelling. Bollywood actor Sohel Khan looks stiff and emotionless..
The plot also involves Arjun punishing a corrupt cop, facing drug charges, and eventually skipping his IPS exam to search for his missing father (a coastal guard officer). These narrative threads feel disjointed and overcrowded, further bogging down the story. Meanwhile, his attempts to reconcile with his mother fall flat as she refuses to accept his transformation.
Kalyan Ram does his best in an "angry young man" avatar and delivers a few solid moments, but his chemistry with Saiee Manjrekar is virtually non-existent. His character arc is slow and far too predictable. Srikant steps in as a police commissioner aiming to curb Arjun’s rogue justice spree, while Pruthvi fits his minor role adequately.
Arjun S/o Vyjayanthi may aim for high drama and action-packed heroism, but ends up as a dated, draggy narrative lacking originality, emotional resonance, or true impact.
