No one can ever forget the name Malgudi because the name itself is the synonym of nostalgia. R K Narayan's book and 1980's Shankar Nag Television series made our childhood special. The movie may not be on par with the path-breaking serial, but it has its own interesting elements.

Writer Lakshmi Narayana Malgudi (Vijay Raghavendra) has announced his retirement from writing and his fans are heartbroken. The man, who lived his entire life creating wonderful memories for his readers, carries around a heavy heart but refuses to share with anyone the reason behind it. While his family suggests that he settled in a foreign land, Malgudi has other plans. He decides to go back to the place where he spent his childhood – Malgudi. 

On the other hand, Prakruti (Greeshma), who has quit her job after reporting workplace harassment, is on the way to find herself. The two bump into each other and begin a journey together. En route, they narrate their stories to each other.

In the flashback, set in the 70s, Malgudi (a young Vijay Raghavendra), a studious Class 10 student, falls in love with Lenita. Her father, a cop, is recently transferred to Malgudi and the family is still in the process of settling down. Malgudi’s love for Lenita doubles when he finds out she is mute. Amidst all this, communal tension breaks out between Hindus and Christians in the town. While Lenita reciprocates Malgudi’s love, miscreants blame Lenita’s family for indulging in conversion. As the tension intensifies, Malgudi flees to Bengaluru. Forty years later, still in love with Lenita, he enters Malgudi with the hope of meeting her is the crux of the story.

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The fresh storyline and unconventional protagonists make this tale a refreshing experience. The lead characters, Vijay Raghavendra as Lakshminarayana Malgudi and Greeshma Shridhar as Prakruti, shine in their roles. 

While the prosthetic makeup (for Vijay Raghavendra) playing the old man seems a bit inconsistent - the actor is consistent with his gait and mannerisms. Although Vijay might look a tad bit built for the scenes showcasing his younger, school-going days, he pulls it off with his acting prowess. All the other supporting characters ably perform their roles too. And each role, regardless of how minute, is given their due with well-etched outlines. 

Witty one-liners, humourous exchanges, and picturesque locales are huge plus points for this narrative. The storytelling draws you in and has you rooting for the lead characters and their personal victories and struggles. 

Gagan Baderiya's music blends well with the narrative. Uday Leela's cinematography, especially when it comes to shots of the rain or of greenery, is commendable. Director Kishor Moodbiri's directorial debut is laud worthy and he shows promise, especially when it comes to his writing skills.

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Director Kishore Moodbidri could have made a better attempt at forging a stronger connection between the flashback and the present in the script. Editor Pradeep Nayak had scope for enhancing the quality of the final output by chopping off a few unnecessary scenes. He seems to have gotten along with the ride and let the slow pace try to impress the audience. 

The biggest drawback of the movie is the music by Gagan Baderia which is mediocre.

If you love films that take their time to draw you in and are a fan of nostalgia-inducing, emotional, rural narratives and childhood experiences like first love, antics at school, etc, this movie is the pick for you.