N.V. Manoj

Oshana (2024) takes you straight into the tangled mess of small-town life, where secrets are currency and trust comes at a premium. The film, directed by N.V. Manoj, doesn’t waste time sugarcoating the rough edges of its characters. Instead, you get raw, messy relationships and people who barely know what they want, let alone how to get it. The story circles around a group of friends who, on the surface, look like they’ve got it together, but honestly, everyone’s dealing with their own baggage. There’s a sense of longing, regret, and that constant itch for something more, something real. The setting’s drenched in local color—think narrow lanes, bustling markets, and the kind of gossip that travels faster than Wi-Fi. As the plot unravels, you start to see how the smallest choices spiral into massive consequences. It’s not just about big, dramatic moments, either. Oshana hangs out in the in-between spaces—the awkward silences, the lingering looks, the stuff people don’t say out loud. There’s a love story in there, sure, but don’t expect a fairy tale. It’s complicated, messy, and sometimes downright uncomfortable. At its core, the film pokes at the idea of what home really means and how sometimes, the people you’re closest to are the ones who can hurt you most. By the time the credits roll, you’re left wondering if anyone ever really escapes their past, or if we’re all just trying to make peace with it.