Movie Review of Valavaara

By Parvathy Ananthanarayanan Mangala

First Impressions

They say you need to know a language well to truly connect with a story. But what happens when you step into a dim auditorium at a film festival (Jagran Film Festival – Delhi Schedule: September 2025), expecting just another screening, and walk out with a story that stays with you long after?

That’s exactly what happened with “Valavaara” written and directed by Sutan Gowda.

The film gave me the same feeling I get after finishing a good book—one that inspires you to reflect and act in your own life.

Why I Remember Characters by Their Names

I didn’t even try to search for the real names of the cast and crew. Not because I couldn’t, but because I want to remember each of them by their character names alone. That’s how deeply they left an impression on me.

The Heart of the Story

Without spoiling the plot, I’ll just say this: if you want your child to learn real moral values—the same ones your parents once taught you—this film is a must-watch.

The story follows Kundesi, a boy who learns life’s biggest lessons through struggles, sacrifices, and situations that test him. Each challenge shapes him into a better human being.

Relating to Kundesi

Whenever Kundesi faced difficulties, I found myself thinking of my own childhood.

When his family struggled to make ends meet, I remembered the sacrifices of my elder brother and my parents, who gave up so much of their own comfort and happiness just to keep our family going.

When his friend refused to lend him money, I thought of the same lesson I was taught—that money can harm relationships.

When his younger brother fought with him yet later stood up for him against their father, it reminded me of the beauty of sibling bonds and Indian values.

I didn’t feel like I was watching a film. I felt like I was sitting in Kundesi’s village, watching life unfold right in front of me.

Why This Film Stands Out

This is not about technical filmmaking aspects—critics can analyze that. What stood out to me was how genuine and honest the film felt. It made me put my phone away, stop scrolling, and watch with full attention.

The performances, the emotions, the simple village backdrop—everything blurred the line between reel life and real life. Even though Valavaara is in Kannada, the English subtitles made no difference to me. The emotions and acting spoke louder than the words.

And this is where Indian cinema shines. A good Indian film—whether Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali or Marathi or any Indian / regional language— has the potential to remove the language barriers. Through pure performances and storytelling, you stop seeing it as “north” or “south,” or by its language. You just feel truly Indian while watching a good Indian film. That’s the beauty of our cinema. And that’s how Valavaara sets an example to the film industry. 

A Lesson for Schools and Families

I strongly feel Valavaara should be shown in schools. Imagine students writing down five things they learned from the film —it would shape them with the right values early in life.

And for families, this is the kind of film that brings everyone together. It’s not just cinema; it’s a mirror to our own lives.

Nature, Simplicity, and Humanity

The lush green backdrop was breathtaking. It reminded me how much we all crave a simple life connected with nature, instead of chasing a fast-paced, luxury-driven world.

This is where the film wins—it doesn’t just tell a story; it brings you closer to your roots and to what really matters in life.

Final Thoughts

The Jagran Film Festival carries the tagline “Good Cinema for Everyone.” Interestingly, Valavaara lives up to it from start to finish.

A big congratulations to Morph Productions on their debut film. I hope they continue to create more such stories—films that promote humanity over materialism, and values over distractions.

If you watch Valavaara, don’t just watch it—feel it. That’s what cinema is truly about.