The Background:
Veteran director Gunasekhar, known for his grand sets and big-budget films, faced a major setback with Shakuntalam (2023). After three years, he returns with Euphoria, a film that attempts to deliver a socially relevant message.
The Story:
The film follows Vikas, son of college principal Vindhya Vemulapalli (Bhumika Chawla). Vikas and his four friends gang rape Chaitra (Sara Arjun), an aspiring IAS officer, after meeting her at a pub. In a shocking move, Vindhya approaches the High Court to file a case against herself, admitting failure as a parent.
The Good:
Gunasekhar deserves credit for tackling a bold and socially relevant subject: Parental responsibility and youth crime. The idea of a mother filing a case against herself is striking. The first half has some strong emotional moments, such as Chaitra questioning whether girls going to pubs and being friendly with boys should be treated as a crime. The hospital scene between Vindhya and Vikas, and the sequences involving police officer Gautam Menon, are effective.
Bhumika Chawla delivers a decent performance as Vindhya, though not entirely convincing. Sara Arjun makes a strong impact despite limited screen time, shining in emotional and confrontational scenes. Vignesh Gavireddy is effective in a crucial role. The climactic confrontation is appreciable in concept.
The Bad:
After a promising first half, the narrative loses direction in the second half. The focus shifts to Vikas’s life in jail and his mother’s attempts to reform him, turning overly preachy. Vindhya’s sudden transformation from a righteous civilian to a protective mother feels unconvincing.
The Worse:
Like many films dealing with sexual assault, Euphoria repeats triggering dialogues and incidents, which feel unnecessary. The handling of legal proceedings, such as parole, looks silly and undermines the film’s intent. Subplots involving drug addiction and a psycho killer running a drug racket are poorly executed, adding no emotional weight.
Also, the scene where Vikas blames his parents for his actions feels like a flimsy excuse, especially given the severity and ghastly nature of his crime.
Screentime:
The second half drags, making it easy for viewers to lose interest.
Takeaway:
The film’s honest intent in highlighting the alarming issue of minors involved in crime is commendable.
Bottomline:
Euphoria has noble intentions but loses its way in translation.
Rating: 2/5
