Prakash Raj and Pony Verma
Prakash Raj features in "Gouravam"REUTERS/Bobby Yip

Director Radha Mohan's "Gouravam", which is based on honour killing, has received mixed reviews from film critics.

Radha Mohan has teamed up with Prakash Raj for the sixth time after successful films including, "Azhagiya Theeye", "Ponniyin Selvan", "Mozhi", "Abhiyum Naanum" and "Payanam". Unlike their previous movies, the newly-released Tamil-Telugu bilingual movie, "Gouravam" is an intense social drama that touches the subject of honour killings.

Allu Sirish, brother of popular Tollywood star Allu Arjun, makes his debut as the lead in the movie. Yami Gautham of "Vicky Donor" fame plays the female lead.

Here's what the critics have to say about the movie

M Suganth of The Times of India said, "Gouravam is proof that you need more than good intentions to make a movie about a social evil. The film is a social drama that unfolds as a mystery but the catch is that unless you have been living under a rock, you would know its revelations even as its sets up its plot."

Heaping praises on the main actors' performances in the movie, Bhama Devi of Indiaglitz wrote, "Prakash Raj as always lives and breathes the character, and it is amazing how many shades of grey he can bring to the table. For a debutant, Sirish passes muster. He is fine in the action scenes, but needs to tone up his facial expressions a bit. Yami does a neat job, as do the others."

Commending on the efforts of the director, Behindwoods review said, "Radha Mohan has to be appreciated for centering his script on a topical and relevant issue. But, his execution is what lets the movie down as melodrama scores high in most of the scenes. The utopian motives of the youngsters in the movie also come out as being contrived due to the screenplay. That said, the segment towards the end surrounding the investigation scenes gives the movie some momentum."

"Thaman's background score goes with the movie's flow and his songs are also likable. The 'anthemic' Ondraai Ondraai, the moving Oru Graamam and the lively Mannadacha stand out, though not spectacular," the Behindwoods review said. 

"Gouravam" is about Arjun (Allu Sirish), who is on a mission to find his missing friend Shanmugam who had eloped with his lover Rajeshwari. While Shanmugham is from a lower caste, his lover is the daughter of Pasupathy (Prakahs Raj), an upper caste biggie in the village called T Vennure where untouchability is still practised. During his search for his friend, Arjun makes startling revelations.

Produced by Prakash Raj, the film boasts of a good storyline and the actors have given excellent performances. Apart from the lead pair, the movie's star cast includes Sricharan and Nasser.