Tanuja Movie Review : A tale of grit and determination

Plot: Tanuja, a NEET aspirant, has to travel 400 kilometres to an unknown city to write the exams, but the time is running out.

Review: Tanuja (Saptha Pavoor) is a brilliant student, who hails from a small village in Shivamogga. She dreams about becoming a doctor and wants to take up NEET exams. Covid-induced lockdown and a technical glitch plays a spoilsport. Her teacher Pradeep Eshwar (Rajesh Natranga), who is aware of Tanuja’s talents, is hell-bent on getting her the hall-ticket. A journalist’s tweet on the issue escalates things. But, even after getting the hall-ticket, Tanuja still has a bigger challenge ahead of her.

Tanuja is based on the true story of a girl who fought against all the odds to write NEET exam during the pandemic. The film has special appearance by politicians - former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and health minister K Sudhakar. Tanuja is a neat emotional film that takes people on a roller-coaster ride while also reminding them of their privilege. Saptha Pavoor, whose was last seen in Rishab Shetty’s Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shaale, has done a good job in transforming into Tanuja. Her eyes filled with dreams as well as insecurities are a treat to watch. Rajesh Natranga as a helpless teacher and Sandhya Arakere as Tanuja’s mother ably support her. Award-winning director Harish Halli has succeeded in telling an inspirational story. He has thoughtfully captured what goes into the mind of a small-town girl on the day of the exam when nothing is going her way. The film is about how a small decision can change the future of many. Pradyotan’s music and background score has elevated the film.

Though the film feels like a documentary, it still makes for a decent one-time watch.