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Movie Name: 45
Directed by: Arjun Janya
Starring: Shiva Rajkumar, Upendra, Raj B. Shetty, Kaustubha Mani
Genre: Drama, Action, Fantasy
Release Date: 25 December, 2025
Language: Kannada
Running Time: 150 Minutes
Rating:
Production Company: Suraj Productions
Box Office: ₹18 Crore
45 is a gripping tale of life, love and destiny, filled with raw emotions, intense drama and high-octane action.
45: Movie Overview
45 is an upcoming Kannada-language action fantasy film directed by Arjun Janya in his directorial debut and produced by Ramesh Reddy under the Suraj Productions banner. It stars Shiva Rajkumar, Upendra, Raj B. Shetty, and Kaustubha Mani in lead roles.
The film was shot in Bangalore and Mysore for 80 days.
45 is scheduled to be released on 25 December 2025, coinciding with Christmas, which was earlier scheduled for release on 15 August but was postponed due to unfinished production work.
The film was announced in July 2022, with Arjun Janya stepping into direction for the first time after a successful career as a music composer. The project was envisioned as a pan-India entertainer with a strong philosophical undertone and heavy reliance on visual effects;
Movie Trailer:
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Movie Review:
Big stars, bigger ideas, and an overloaded exploration of life and death
45 marks the directorial debut of Arjun Janya, one of the most celebrated music composers in the Kannada film industry. Taking a leap from music to direction, Arjun Janya brings together three powerhouse stars Shivrajkumar, Upendra, and Raj B Shetty, making the film one of the most anticipated projects in recent times. True to its spirit, 45 feels like a film made by a fan, for fans — an action thriller layered with philosophical reflections on life, death, fear, and karma.
The story begins in a familiar, everyday setting, a traffic signal where the red light lasts exactly 45 seconds. Vinay (Raj B Shetty), a 29-year-old software engineer, is late for work and distracted by a call from his colleagues urging him to hurry for an important meeting. In a moment of impatience, he jumps the signal, hits a dog, and in the next instant is struck by a speeding truck. Just as the audience braces for tragedy, Vinay wakes up from what seems like a nightmare, reassured by his mother’s presence. However, the fear lingers. What begins as a bad dream soon turns into an all-consuming obsession with death.
From here, the film branches into multiple narrative layers. Vinay starts seeing death everywhere and, driven by fear, begins exploring concepts of the afterlife through documentaries on the Garuda Purana. The screenplay plays with parallel worlds, one that feels like a fictionalised documentary, another that Vinay believes to be his reality, and a third that blurs the line between perception and truth. The central question remains intriguing: Is Vinay alive, dead, or trapped in a life lesson shaped by his own actions?
Vinay’s emotional journey is framed through the people around him, his routine corporate life, colleagues, his girlfriend (Kaustubha Mani), and his deeply caring mother (Manasi Sudhir). Through these relationships, the director highlights what he sees as humanity’s five fundamental fears: the fear of losing money, friends, love, family, and ultimately, the fear of death itself.
Two towering characters serve as the film’s moral and narrative pillars. Rayappa (Upendra) is first seen tending to buffaloes, grieving the death of his beloved dog, and consumed by a desire for justice. He believes punishment should be fair and free of sentiment. On the other side stands Shivappa (Shivrajkumar), a benevolent neighbourhood figure who creates a safe space for the people around him and becomes Vinay’s protector during his journey.
While 45 is rich in ideas and messaging, from traffic discipline to existential philosophy, grief, attachment, and spirituality, the execution doesn’t always allow these concepts to breathe. The screenplay often feels uneven and rushed, prioritising suspense and surprise over organic character development. Vinay’s journey, instead of deepening emotionally, frequently turns into a series of chases and escapes involving endless goons, diluting the philosophical core.
Several subplots, including those involving Vinay’s girlfriend’s uncle (Rajendran), Altaf Bhai (Pramod Shetty), and brief appearances by other characters, feel stretched, especially in hindsight after the film concludes. Some attempts at humour, including moments of body-shaming and teasing exchanges between Shivappa and Vinay, clash with the character traits and the otherwise serious, introspective tone of the film. Additionally, the constant celebration of the three stars through callbacks, dialogues, and background score references to their earlier films often overshadows the characters themselves. At times, we find ourselves celebrating the actors more than connecting with the characters.
Technically, the film is impressive. The cinematography is polished, the background score is effective, and Arjun Janya makes a conscious choice to avoid songs altogether. The VFX work is commendable in parts, though inconsistent in others. The film also holds a surprise for fans in the climax, leaning heavily into spirituality, which may feel overwhelming and enthralling for viewers. Ultimately, 45 is a film packed with ambition and ideas, perhaps too many. While its core message about life and death occasionally gets lost amid mass-action elements and fan service, it remains a unique attempt. For viewers willing to watch it through a fan’s lens, 45 offers moments worth experiencing.
