{{Short description|2025 Indian Kannada-language action film}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use Indian English|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox film | image = Vaamana poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Shankar Raman. S | writer = Shankar Raman. S | producer = Chethan Kumar Gowda | starring = {{plainlist| * Dhanveer Gowda * Reeshma Nanaiah }} | cinematography = Mahendra Simha | editing = Suresh Arumugam | music = B. Ajaneesh Loknath | studio = Equinox Global Entertainment | distributor = | released = {{film date|2025|4|10|df=yes}} | country = India | language = Kannada | budget = | runtime = }}
'''''Vaamana''''' is a 2025 Indian Kannada-language action film directed by Shankar Raman S and produced by Chethan Kumar Gowda under Equinox Global Entertainments. The film stars Dhanveer Gowda and Reeshma Nanaiah in the lead roles. The soundtrack is composed by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, while the cinematography and editing was handled by Mahendra Simha and Suresh Arumugam.
== Plot == The film opens with Guna (Dhanveerrah), a quiet yet intense man working as a henchman for a powerful businessman. Beneath his stoic exterior lies a storm of betrayal and vengeance. His life takes a violent turn when he discovers that his employer, Karamlal (Adithya Menon), and local don Papanna (Sampath Raj) are involved in a conspiracy that destroyed his family years ago. Guna’s mother (Tara) is central to his emotional arc. In a poignant flashback, she vows not to see her son until he purges the world of evil—a promise that becomes his driving force. Her restrained yet powerful performance adds gravitas to the narrative. As Guna spirals deeper into the underworld, his actions become a cry for justice rather than mere revenge. The police force, crippled by corruption, offers no help, forcing Guna to wage a lone war against a system built on fear and silence.
Nandini (Reeshma Nanaiah) enters as a beacon of hope and humanity in Guna’s blood-soaked life. Their relationship is tender yet tragic, offering glimpses of the life Guna could have had. A birthday celebration scene amidst chaos underscores this contrast. The emotional turning point comes with the death of Guna’s closest ally, Ravi. Soon after, a shocking revelation surfaces: Papanna, the antagonist, shares a hidden familial bond with Guna—a betrayal that scars both mother and son. This twist redefines Guna’s quest, making it as much about redemption as revenge.
== Cast == * Dhanveer Gowda as Guna * Reeshma Nanaiah as Nandini<ref>{{cite news|title=ನೀರಿನಂಥ ಹೀರೋಗೆ ಹಾಲಿನಂಥ ನಾಯಕಿ! 'ವಾಮನ' ಚಿತ್ರದ ಧನ್ವೀರ್, ರೀಷ್ಮಾ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳು ರಿವೀಲ್|url=https://vijayavani.net/kannada-movie-vamana-characters-look-revealed|date=1 August 2023|accessdate=13 August 2023|newspaper=Vijayavaani|archive-date=13 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813093943/https://www.vijayavani.net/kannada-movie-vamana-characters-look-revealed|url-status=live}}</ref> * Sampath Raj as Papanna * Adithya Menon as Karamlal * Achyuth Kumar * Tara * Avinash * Petrol Prasanna
== Soundtrack == {{Unreferenced section|date=May 2025}} B. Ajaneesh Loknath composed the soundtrack and background score. {{Infobox album | name = Vaamana | type = Soundtrack | artist = B. Ajaneesh Loknath | released = 2023 | genre = Feature film soundtrack | studio = Kruthi Audios | language = Kannada | label = A2 Music }} {{Track listing | title1 = Va Va Va Vaamana | length1 = {{Duration|m=4|s=0}} | total_length = | headline = Track list |extra_column = Singer (s) | extra1 = Shashank Sheshagiri | title2 = Muddu Rakshasi | length2 = {{Duration|m=3|s=39}} | extra2 = Vijay Prakash }}
== Release == Initially, the film was scheduled to be released in September 2023,<ref>{{cite news|title=Vaamana movie shooting is completed. Film is hit screens in September|url=https://kannadaprabha.com/cinema/news/2023/aug/08/vaamana-is-aiming-for-a-mid-september-release-499901.html|date=8 August 2023|accessdate=12 August 2023|author=Manjula VN|newspaper=Kannadaprabha|archive-date=10 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810234554/https://www.kannadaprabha.com/cinema/news/2023/aug/08/vaamana-is-aiming-for-a-mid-september-release-499901.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=A. |first1=Sharadhaa |title=Vaamana is aiming for a mid-September release |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/kannada/news/2023/Aug/08/vaamana-is-aiming-for-a-mid-september-release-46372.html |work=Cinema Express |date=10 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref> but it was delayed and was theatrically released on 10 April 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last1=A. |first1=Sharadhaa |title=Dhanveerrah's Vaamana gets a release date |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2025/Feb/27/dhanveerrahs-vaamana-gets-a-release-date-2 |work=The New Indian Express |date=8 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
== Reception == Sridevi S. of ''The Times of India'' rated the film two-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote, "''Vamana'' is a high-octane action drama, narrated with a non-linear screenplay, which does more harm than good. The film comes together only in the last 30 minutes as it stitches all the pieces together, but one has to sit through a lot of conflicts and confusion to reach till the peak moment."<ref>{{cite news |title=Vaamana Movie Review : Vaamana review: Dhanveerraah's mass moment |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movie-reviews/vaamana/movie-review/120229724.cms |work=The Times of India |date=12 April 2025}}</ref> A. Sharadhaa of ''The New Indian Express'' wrote, "Director Shankar Raman avoids formulaic beats and crafts a story where action serves emotion, set in world that is gritty, morally complex, and far more grounded than typical mass cinema".<ref>{{cite news |last1=A. |first1=Sharadhaa |title=Vamana Movie Review: Dhanveerrah embraces mass heroism in an actioner without commercial trappings |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2025/Apr/12/vamana-movie-review-dhanveerrah-embraces-mass-heroism-in-an-actioner-without-commercial-trappings |work=The New Indian Express |date=6 April 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
== References == <!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. --> {{reflist}}
== External links == {{IMDb title|21810074}}
Category:2025 Indian films Category:2025 Kannada-language films Category:Indian action films Category:Films scored by B. Ajaneesh Loknath