Subramanya Prasada debut film Kode Muruga traces the struggles of an aspiring filmmaker to see his script on screen. The film has the classic underdog tale blended with comedy and makes for a somewhat engaging watch.

Kode Muruga narrates the tale of Subramanya Prasada, a director, and his struggles in cinema. After running for a while, his friend helps him find a producer. But there's a catch. The producer asks the director to make his brother Muruga the face of the film.

Cast: Muni Krishna, Subramnaya Prasad, Aravind Rao, Pallavi Gowda, Dattana, and Rockline Sudhakar

Director: Subramanya Prasad

Subramanya finds himself in a quandary as Muruga is not exactly hero material. He is neither tall nor handsome and has a personality that doesn’t translate well on screen. But, enticed by the opportunity,  Subramanya takes up the challenge and brings Muruga on board. Over the next hour, we see the producer give up mid-way, but the director endures it all for his filmmaking journey. Will he be able to deliver a hit at the box office?

Kode Muruga highlights a few disturbing scenarios that are familiar to anyone in the industry. The plight of the director’s life, the behind-the-scenes manoeuvring and the convincing role of Muruga all make for interesting viewing. Subramanya Prasada perhaps wants to give us a glimpse into what went into making this movie and leave us with a few questions. However, there is a liberal dose of humour that also has the audience laughing and the entertainment factor is certainly strong in the first half. The movie turns a bit preachy in the second half, which might throw off those expecting more laughter.

Muni Krishna, who plays Muruga, is the perfect choice for the role and shines throughout. After playing small roles on television, he proves himself here and gives credibility to the saying ‘do not judge a book by its cover’. His comic timing, expressions and dialogue delivery are all on point. 

Subramanya Prasada, on the other hand, is both the strength and weakness of Kode Muruga. In an attempt to showcase his struggles on screen, he takes on all responsibilities of the film, including story, screenplay, dialogues and lyrics. In the end, we come out thinking Prasada looks tired, exhausted and ready for the cold climax that Kode Muruga delivers. The film is definitely different from the regular Kannada releases, but it only manages to entertain in parts.