Navagraha (film)

Navagraha
DVD cover
Directed by	Dinakar Thoogudeepa
Written by	A. V. Chinthan (Dialogues)
Screenplay by	Dinakar Thoogudeepa
Story by	Dinakar Thoogudeepa A. V. Chinthan
Produced by	Meena Thoogudeepa Srinivas
Starring	Darshan Sharmila Mandre
Cinematography	A. V. Krishna Kumar
Edited by	T. Shashi kumar
Music by	V. Harikrishna
Production company	Thoogudeepa Productions
Release date	7 November 2008 (2008-11-07)
Running time	149 minutes
Country	India
Language	Kannada

Navagraha is a 2008 Indian Kannada-language heist thriller film directed by Dinakar Thoogudeepa and A. V. Chinthan. The film stars Darshan and Sharmila Mandre.^[1][2]

At a summit between world crime syndicates, it is proposed to steal the Ambari, a golden ceremonial object used in religious festivals, from Mysore Palace and auction it for US$500 million. Iqbal proposes that his henchman, master thief Jaggu, lead the operation, and Diwan pays bail for Jaggu who had been imprisoned for a bank heist. Jaggu's sister Gowri and friend Kumbhi bring him to Iqbal, who makes a deal with Jaggu to steal the Ambari and deliver it to Mangalore Harbour for US$20 million. Kumbhi is hesitant to join the operation, but is convinced by Gowri for due to their affection for each other.

Kumbhi and Jaggu discuss the team for the heist, the latter proposing four people he had met in prison: tunnelling expert Tony, duplication experts and friends Nagi and Shetty, and getaway driver Gende. They all initially decline to take part in the heist because the Jamboo Savari festival is approaching and the Ambari is believed to protected by the goddess Chamundeshwari, but increasing financial pressures cause them to join the team.

The team travel to Mysore and reach their hideout. Jaggu's old colleague Kiran brings in Vicky, the son of the palace's chief security guard, who provides information about three tunnels, one of which can be used to access the Ambari when the object is to be worshipped during Ayudha Puja. Tony and Vicky check the tunnels and determine the shortest and safest route. The team then start their heist preparations.

The team cross the tunnel and replace the Ambari with a fake. They take the real one and escape on a disguised bus, heading toward their destination of Mangalore Harbour. Meanwhile, the Mysore city police department appoints Assistant Commissioner Bhagath in charge of Mysore Palace security along with Vicky's best friend Sub Inspector Prathap. When the Ayudha Puja commences, Bhagath deduces that the Ambari has been stolen and begins an investigation.

Bhagath learns from a sculptor that Jaggu had replicas of the Ambari made, and deduces that he is trying to confuse the police. Bhagath claims that the replicas contain RDX explosives in order to arrest and pressure anyone found with one. Jaggu's team reach the border^[specify] where he deduces Bhagath's plan and takes an alternate route, killing two police officers who become suspicious. Bhagath suspects that Vicky is involved in the heist and decides to search for him. While travelling, Kumbhi reveals to Jaggu that he knows Jaggu plans to double-cross the others by killing them, and reveals that he changed the password to the account Iqbal will use to pay them.

The group rest on a hill while repairing a flat tire. Kumbhi gives Gowri a pendrive which contains the heist plan, bank account number and password. Jaggu kills Kumbhi and incapacitates Gowri, gaining the pendrive, and decides to continue their journey. Vicky learns that Kiran has been using him all along, and has feelings for Jaggu instead of for himself. Devastated about Kumbhi's death, Gowri commits suicide by jumping from the bus. Tony realizes that Jaggu cannot be trusted and holds Gende at gunpoint to stop the bus, resulting in a Mexican standoff between the remaining group members. Vicky calls Prathap and reveals the Ambari's location before Kiran threatens Vicky at gunpoint.

The bus stops in a dense wilderness and a fight erupts in which everyone is killed except for Jaggu and Vicky. Jaggu beats Vicky and resumes the bus journey. Bhagath and his team shoot the bus, which crashes partway over the side of a bridge. Bhagath ties a rope to the Ambari which is lifted away by a police helicopter. Bhagath takes Vicky and jumps from the bus, which tips over and crashes down a chasm, killing Jaggu.

At the Vijayadashami festival, the Ambari is reinstated and the Jamboo Savari is celebrated. Vicky decides to work hard in the future.

Adi Lokesh was approached for a villainous role but declined due to financial reasons.^[3]

R. G. Vijayasarathy of Rediff.com scored the film at 4 out of 5 stars, credited Darshan for playing a less-than-heroic character and allowing less-recognizable actors to take leading roles, and praised the performances of Keerthiraj, Prabhakar, and Lokesh.^[4] A critic from Bangalore Mirror wrote that, in spite of the film's narrative and performance inconsistencies, it is "watchable ... for the novelty it brings to monoton[ous] Kannada films".^[5] A critic from The New Indian Express felt that fans might not appreciate Darshan's departure from heroic roles, and that the film lacked a strong villain.^[6]

• Maha Prachandaru – a 1981 Kannada heist film about the theft of an idol from a temple.

• Navagraha at IMDb