Title – Jumboo Circus, Producer – HC Suresh, Director – MD Sridhar, Cinematographer – Krishna Kumar, Music – Vasuki Vaibhav, Cast – Praveen Tej, Anjali Anish, Shine Shetty, Swathi, Achyuth Kumar, Lakshmi Siddaiah, Ravishanker Gowda, Avinash, Ashalatha, Jaggappa, Mohan Juneja, and others.
From his usual action-packed films (Porkhi, Bul Bul, Krishna Challata, Odeya, etc.), director MD Sridhar returns with a convincing family entertainer in Jumboo Circus. Although the storyline is familiar, the second half brings something unusual. Beyond being a rib-tickler, the film also carries emotions, along with elements of love and action.
Jumboo Circus boasts a solid star cast, and each of them performs with skill. Alongside Vasuki Vaibhav’s lilting and soothing music, the cinematography by ace Krishna Kumar stands out as a major technical highlight.
MD Sridhar, known for several superhit films, understands the craft of holding attention. He delivers 123 minutes of Jumboo Circus with a feel-good factor, showcasing his directorial dexterity.
Two friends, Murali and Shanker (Achyuth Kumar and Ravishanker Gowda), married to Kusuma and Anitha (Swathi and Lakshmi Siddaiah) respectively, are aligned in their ideals but not so in their spouses. Anitha feels superior and often clashes with Kusuma, who lives in the opposite building. Anitha is determined to have a baby boy, while Kusuma is content with any gender. Both deliver on the same day, and a twist at this point adds intrigue—one best left undisclosed.
Akash (Praveen Tej) and Anitha (Anjali Anish) from the two families also inherit the quarrelling nature, but eventually, both fall in love. This is unacceptable to Anitha’s mother, which brings more drama into the screenplay. Soon, it is revealed that both Kusuma and Anitha have been duped by their respective husbands. The marriage of Akash and Anitha now hangs in the balance. A retired army personnel in Anitha and Shanker’s family then reveals a secret that clears everything.
What is that secret, and what happens to this Jumboo Circus family, forms the engaging part of the film. Praveen Tej excels in looks, action, and dance, and shines equally in emotional scenes. Anjali Anish is a cool performer with great screen presence. The veteran actors – Swathi, Lakshmi Siddaiah, Achyuth Kumar, Avinash, Ravishanker Gowda, and Ashalatha – provide brilliant support. The performances of Swathi and Lakshmi Siddaiah, in particular, deserve special mention.
Vasuki Vaibhav, who also sings one melodious track, delivers two more lovely tunes. Krishna Kumar’s cinematography is top-class. So are the editing, production values, costumes, and other technical aspects.
This is easily a watchable film for the entire family.