Karthik (Mahat Raghavendra), a backbench student in engineering college wilds away his time with no seriousness on education being left with 16 backlogs in the course. He is in a relationship with Priyanka (Archana Kavi), who dreams of doing MS in USA. Karthik doesn’t like her to go to USA but as her father forces her, she flies to USA which brings rift between them. Chaitra (Pia Bajpai) comes into his life during this time and helps him out in securing a job as he leaves the house as his parents (Sharath Babu and Pragathi) come to know about his backlogs. When he gets happy with Chaitra and their relationship takes off, Priyanka comes back to India and who will Karthik end up with forms the crux.

Performances
Mahat Raghavendra is not apt for the role. His emotional expressions are unconvincing and his voice didn’t suit for the role and he needs to work on his dialogue diction. His dances are good though.

Pia Bajpai has good screen presence and she does her role as Chaitra neatly while Archana Kavi is good-looking but fails in promotion.

Ali has brought in few laughs along with Sriharsha Basava while Brahamanadam is wasted. Sarath Babu, Banerjee and Pragathi are decent in their respective roles.

Technical Analysis

Prasad G.K’s Cinematography fails to attract and Sunil Kashyap’s musical scores are mediocre. While the storyline is wafer thin, the screenplay and direction are disappointing. Dialogues by Lakshmi Bhupal aren’t interesting, editing is jerky. Production values of MVK Reddy are mediocre.

Analysis
Backbench Student takes off with a promising start but falls flat later. The storyline is wafer thin and the proceedings are highly predictable. Screenplay goes for a toss while the lead cast apart from Pia Bajpai fails in their expressions at emotional scenes. Characterizations are badly etched, and the chemistry doesn’t work between the lead pairs and so is the comedy track. The first half is unexciting while Pia Bajpai and Ali manage to an extent in the second half. The narration is dragging and quite slow, and climax could have been much better.

Final Verdict

Back Bench Student—A badly executed film…