Night Curfew

 Night Curfew is a 2024 Indian Kannada-language crime thriller film directed by Ravindra Venshi and starring Malashri and Ranjani Raghavan. The film is set during the COVID-19 pandemic curfew and was released to mixed-to-positive reviews.

Plot
During a deadly pandemic gripping the world, Dr. Durga, a former army doctor, and her team battle tirelessly at a private hospital amidst strict curfews. The tension escalates when Tina's menacing husband forces the hospital to admit her, only for Tina to tragically succumb before treatment can begin. Dr. Durga senses something amiss as Raghuram and his cohorts take over, severing all communication with the outside world.

Now, Dr. Durga must protect her patients while unraveling the mystery that unfolds within the hospital's walls.

Pre-Production
During the lockdown, Director Ravindra Venshi read a news story that had occurred in Hyderabad, which piqued his interest. Venshi developed the plot, and when Producer Chandrashekar casually inquired, he narrated the story. Impressed by the storyline, Chandrashekhar asked him to complete the screenplay. Ravindra Venshi then sat down and wrote the entire script, presenting it to Chandrashekar as a bound script. Initially, the movie was envisioned for a low budget with non-star actors.

Casting
Initially, Ravindra Venshi planned to cast veteran artist Ram Kumar's son, Dheeren Ramkumar, as the protagonist for "Night Curfew". A photoshoot was even conducted with him. However, the plan did not materialize, and later, the director decided to change the protagonist to a female role. Malashri was then chosen as the main lead for the film.

Production
Principal photography commenced on March 23, 2022, amidst the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic. With hospitals unavailable for shooting, the team ingeniously opted to construct sets on the producer's own property. Led by art director Chiranjivi, they meticulously crafted sets including a mortuary, where filming spanned nine intense days, complete with gripping action sequences.

Subsequently, another set was meticulously fashioned to replicate hospital interiors, followed by sets for a bar and an oxygen corner, each meticulously designed to authentically reflect their respective environments. Additionally, a portion of an international school was transformed into a hospital, adding a layer of realism to the narrative.

Given that the story unfolds over the course of a single night, all filming took place during nighttime hours, heightening the film's atmospheric intensity and capturing the urgency of its plot.

Reception
A critic from The Times of India rated the film three out of five stars and wrote that "Apart from a few flaws, Night Curfew can be a good one-time watch". A Sharadhaa from The New Indian Express rated the film two-and-half out of five stars and wrote that "Night Curfew delivers what it sets out to do, even though it only holds up as a one-time watch". A critic from Times Now wrote that "Apart from Malashree and her typical on-screen action, Night Curfew is another ordinary film made against the backdrop of measures imposed to curb the spread of Coronavirus in 2021 and early 2022". flickfeeds.com praised the screenplay, direction and stated that movie is "well crafted". Kannada popular daily Vijayavani wrote that excluding some dull moments, night curfew is must watch movie for thriller movie fans".