Review of “O2”: An experimental picture with erratic pleasures
As they say, “love is in the air,” and in the film O2, which is co-directed by Raghav Nayak and Prashanth Raj, love takes on a whole new meaning. In this instance, love and science collide, and the narrative suggests that love is universal. This film examines the interpersonal ties and emotional core of its characters within the limits of a hospital-based tale, with a dash of suspense. Put another way, O2 combines aspects of a medical thriller and romance with the clinical sterility of science. Is it all able to provide its audience a revitalizing pulse? Let’s investigate.
O2 is sentimentally significant since it was the last screenplay Puneeth Rajkumar reviewed and endorsed for his production company. The film centers on Dr. Shraddha Nayak (Ashika Ranganath), an MD in anesthesiology, and falls into a distinct genre for Kannada cinema that concentrates on medical research. Along with three other medical professionals, Shrishti (Siri Ravikumar), Dev (Praveen Tej), and Venky (Puneeth BA), Shraddha carries out significant research on an injection of a medication called O2, which is said to be able to resurrect dead people. They try to experiment on a patient against the senior physician’s (Prakash Belawadi) objections, but the first attempt is unsuccessful.
In the middle of this, we learn of Shraddha’s personal health problems. Even though she is a doctor, she is afraid to tell her family members she is dying because of the trauma she had as a youngster over her father’s sudden death. She has been taking depression medicine ever since.
We learn about Osho (Raghav Nayak), whose voice we first hear on the radio, and we also learn that he and Shraddha are connected. Osho aspires to be a musician and wants to work at the Berkeley studio. Osho, who he lovingly refers to as “Emergency,” is very infatuated with Shraddha. He is a compassionate, charming, and passionate guy. In a matter of weeks, their friendship turns into a loving one, and Osho pops the question of marriage by giving her an ancestor’s finger ring. Shraddha is hesitant to commit to a romance since she is dedicated to her work as a doctor. Dev has emotions for Shraddha, although he has never spoken anything about them.
When the physicians return to the experiment, they have the chance to try the O2 medication on a second patient, but an accident prevents them from doing so. A fire breaks out in the ICU just as the doctors think they are making progress. Dev is stranded with the patient while the other three physicians, including Shraddha, manage to escape. All three of them are affected by this accident, but Dev’s life is altered the most as he undergoes therapy. In the meanwhile, Shraddha takes it upon herself to effectively demonstrate O2’s efficacy. The narrative’s intriguing element, however, is how she continues to explore her relationship with Osho, Dev, and herself. It also shows how she responds to learning certain facts that give the movie a surprising conclusion.
Raghav Nayak and Prashanth Raj’s experimental Kannada film O2 aims to develop a unique genre that combines themes of love, medicine, and content-oriented storytelling. This medical thriller has a lot going for it, but the clear storyline makes it predictable and takes away from some of the tension. After establishing the characters and concentrating on father-daughter ties, the movie follows the lives of physicians. The filmmaker tackles issues of astral travel, which comes across as distinctive, and the main characters have contradictory personalities.
O2’s heart and soul is, in a surprisingly new character, Ashika Ranganath. She handles her romantic track in the movie with subtlety, embodying the worries and responsibilities of a doctor. Her interpretation departs from the conventional commercial heroine, which makes it possible for a polished performance that fits the character’s complexities. However, in addition to directing, Raghav Nayak plays Osho/Omkar in the movie. His persona serves as an explanation of love in contrast to the story’s central topic of death. Nayak does a good job of illustrating Osho’s idea of living each day as it comes. With a well-balanced performance, Praveen Tej plays a doctor adjusting to life after an event, while Siri Ravikumar makes the most of her little on-screen time. Puneeth BA, who also plays supporting characters from Prakash Belawadi and Gopal Krishna Deshpande, injects comedy into the movie.
Aside from the plot and the many personalities, O2’s music stands out. The majority of the songs include the beautiful voice of vocalist Sanjith Hegde, who deserves recognition along with music director Vivan Radhakrishna. Both the music director and writer Jayanth Kaikini deserve special recognition for writing some poignant lyrics for the different songs. Whether the scene is in a hospital, on a beach, or among greenery, Naveen Kumar S’s cinematography always perfectly matches the story’s moves.
Although O2 represents a commendable endeavor by the directing team to investigate a distinct fusion of a romantic comedy and medical thriller with poignant narration, many elements may seem cliched due to the film’s simple plot. But it comes through in its vivid performances, poignant songs, and well-rounded characters. Themes of love, grief, and self-discovery are woven throughout Shraddha’s journey, inspiring viewers to reflect on the complexity of life and the value of interpersonal relationships.
