Plot: Set in Bagalkot,
Desai revolves around the rift in a family spanning different generations.
Movie Review: Praveen (Praveen), a do-gooder, saves the reputation of the village by winning a wrestling competition, bringing him closer to the villagers and the Desai family, known for aiding farmers during a severe famine. Praveen falls in love with Anupama (Radhya), a yoga practitioner and the daughter of a priest, and becomes close to Dasharatha Desai, the head of the Desai family.
Praveen, new to village life, learns the traditional oil-making process, the main occupation of the Desai family. A selfless protagonist, he strives for peace and unity within the family, who have been living separately due to internal conflicts.
Set in North Karnataka,
Desai incorporates elements of family, action, and revenge. However, the simple and outdated storyline, combined with lackluster execution and slow-paced narration, leads the movie nowhere. The use of the North Karnataka dialect adds some authenticity but isn't enough to hold the story together.
Praveen, in his second outing after
Love 360, shines in his role, showing promise as a good actor. Radhya also delivers a commendable performance. Despite these efforts,
Desai falls short in keeping the audience engaged and could have been much better with more effective storytelling.