Martin X review: Dhruva Sarja's ambitious action drama gets mixed reactions

Kannada actor Dhruva Sarja is setting his sights on a "pan-India" success with his latest release Martin. The film, produced on an ambitious scale, had been in the making for a long time but faced numerous delays due to various reasons. Leading up to the release, Martin became embroiled in controversy when its director, AP Arjun, sued the producers.

Even on release day, Martin faced further challenges as early morning shows were cancelled across Karnataka and the Telugu states due to issues with the screening licenses. Despite these struggles, the movie eventually made it to theatres.

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However, the early reviews suggest it might not have the smooth run Dhruva hoped for. Audience and critic reactions have been highly mixed. While Dhruva Sarja's fan base seems pleased with the over-the-top action sequences, punchlines, and intense background score, the general audience’s response to these features has varied significantly.

One audience member expressed disappointment with Dhruva Sarja’s performance, calling it cringe-worthy. "The most irritating part of the first half was Dhruva Sarja’s expression and voice. If they truly intended to portray Martin that way, I believe it was a very wrong decision. The movie is overloaded with unnecessary fights, cringe-worthy dialogues, and illogical sequences. In the end, the film just couldn’t entertain. Feeling sad for @princekukm. I just want to say one thing to @DhruvaSarja—please change your dialogue delivery style; it feels like you’re still stuck in Addhuri. Also, maybe work on refining your screen presence next time!" read a critique from the handle @iamyogitharj.

Other viewers took a more favourable view of the action scenes but lamented the subpar VFX effects. With the extended Ayudha Puja weekend ahead, it remains to be seen whether Martin can turn the tide and emerge as a box office hit.

Martin tells the story of a protagonist who is taken prisoner in a Pakistani jail, and based on the trailer, the character wreaks havoc on his captors while battling some of the strongest men in the world. The story was penned by Arjun Sarja, Dhruva’s uncle.

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