Another campus film is in the theatres. And Bangalore has also come back as the backdrop. Mridul Nair's maiden directorial B Tech portrays campus life, friendship, politics and some melting romance, while discussing the life of some Malayali engineering students, drop-outs, semester-backs and professionals in Bangalore. Though, a full-fledged campus movie with colourful portrayal of friendship and romance, B Tech also deals with some contemporary political issues like Islamophobia and vigorous student awakenings.
Asif Ali's campus thug makeover is enough to erase his chocolate-boy typecast and marks a new high in his career.
Harisree Asokan's son Arjun Asokan plays one of the central characters in the movie. He dons the role of Azad, a first-year engineering student hailing from a rural belt in north Kerala. Niranjana Anoop's Ananya, Sreenath Bhasi's Jojo and Alencier's Sayed Ali are some of the other emotive characters.
Aparna Balamurali has played the character of Anand Subrahmaniam's (Asif Ali) girlfriend, Priya, which is totally different from her usual rural, outspoken characters.
Priya is rather a city-bred, mature, loving, plain adult with attitude and independence. Aparna's assertive performance in B Tech is indeed her stepping stone to the unexplored genres.
Aju Varghese's efforts to establish himself as an antagonist in Mollywood off late, has been proven successful with his character in 'B Tech' as a cunning young lecturer called Manoj.
The movie flows freely with comedy, gang fights, love and fine music till the interval, after which it takes a drastic turn to more intense, emotional and thought-provoking zones.
Swift toggle of moods in the movie is enhanced by timely music numbers composed by Rahul Raj. He has made perfect use of Hindustani compositions to intensify highly emotional sequences.
The second half of the movie has tension, sentiments, action and drama which balances the high exhibition of heroism and assertion of the gang's strong bond, in the first half.
Saiju Kurup, Deepak Parambol, Neena Kurup and Jafar Idukki also appear in significant roles. Anoop Menon's middle-aged character, as Ananya's father, gains due importance towards the end of the movie.
In a nutshell, the B Tech is much beyond the cliched campus thriller outlook as its name conveys. Arguing that skilled B Tech students could constructively contribute to all realms of nation buildings, the movie has really got something meaty for today's youngsters to aspire, dream and accomplish. It also portrays the soul of student awakenings, a burning political topic that spreads like forest-fire across campuses.
Rating: 3/5