City Lights arrived in theatres on September 18, 2026, carrying the weight of expectation that comes with any Duniya Vijay directorial. The actor-turned-filmmaker had previously delivered Salaga and Bheema, two films that showcased his ability to craft raw, grounded stories about life on society’s margins. His third outing as director, starring Vinay Rajkumar and introducing his daughter Monisha Vijaykumar, attempts to shine a light on the darker corners of Bengaluru’s Majestic area. The result is a film that impresses with its atmosphere and performances but stumbles under the weight of familiar storytelling.
What City Lights Is About
The story follows Shivu (Vinay Rajkumar), a young man from a village who arrives in Bengaluru after losing the uncle who raised him. He finds work as a waiter at a restaurant and gradually forms connections with the sex workers who live and work around Majestic. His life takes a sharp turn when he encounters Monisha (Monisha Vijaykumar), a young woman from Sakleshpur who is tricked into the sex trade.
When Shivu rescues her from the goons controlling the area, the two find themselves entangled in a conflict with Puneeth (Puneeth Kumar), an MLA’s assistant who runs a local gang. Seeking protection, they turn to Ammaji (Umashree), a feared and respected figure who runs an all-women and trans-women gang and helps women become financially independent.
Monisha’s search for her younger sibling, who is transitioning to a woman, becomes a central thread in the second half. The film uses this journey to explore themes of acceptance, family support, and the exploitation faced by sex workers in the city.
Vinay Rajkumar Delivers a Grounded Performance
Vinay Rajkumar plays Shivu with a quiet vulnerability that suits the character’s journey from naive newcomer to someone forced to fight for survival. His physicality in the action sequences stands out, and he handles the emotional weight of the role with conviction. The dubbing, however, occasionally feels out of sync, which dilutes the impact of his performance.
The film reunites Vijay Kumar with composer Charan Raj and dialogue writer Masti, both of whom worked on Salaga and Bheema. Charan Raj’s music is one of the film’s strongest assets, blending folk influences, Malemahadeshwara references, tamate beats, and Dakhni rap to create a distinctive Bengaluru soundscape.
Monisha Vijaykumar Makes a Promising Debut
Monisha Vijaykumar, making her acting debut under her father’s direction, delivers a convincing performance that shows potential. Her character undergoes several emotional shifts, and she manages to hold attention despite not being at the centre of the opening act. Monisha prepared for the role by observing people and situations around Majestic to understand the environment her character inhabits.
Duniya Vijay has said he wanted his daughter to approach the role as a performer rather than a conventional heroine. While her launch vehicle does not give her enough room to fully shine, her screen presence suggests a future in the industry.
Umashree Steals the Show as Ammaji
Veteran actor Umashree is the standout performer in City Lights. She plays Ammaji, a fierce yet kind gangster who helps women and trans women become financially independent while keeping them away from the sex trade. Her portrayal brings warmth and authority to a character that could have easily become a cliché, and she commands every scene she appears in.
The rest of the cast is a mixed bag, with some performances landing better than others. The film also features Vasantha Krishnamurthy as Sweety, a sex worker who forms a bond with Shivu early in the story.
The Gritty World of Majestic
City Lights excels in its portrayal of Bengaluru’s Majestic area as a living, breathing character. Cinematographer Shivasena captures the crowded lanes, dimly lit corners, and the people who inhabit the city’s margins with a raw authenticity that grounds the film in reality. The film was shot in real locations rather than studio settings, adding to its documentary-like texture.
The film carries the tagline “Jawabdaari Deepagalu” (meaning “responsible ones”), which reflects its underlying theme of illuminating a path for the youth while addressing societal issues. Duniya Vijay has described the film as shedding light on “the lives of those who are living here, but rarely seen and heard”.
Where the Screenplay Loses Its Way
The runtime is a crisp 129 minutes, which reflects the film’s straightforward nature. The first half moves quickly and sets up the conflict effectively, despite occasional dubbing issues. The second half, however, is where the film loses momentum.
The screenplay feels disjointed, with random scenes stitched together without enough flow or transition. A significant portion of the second half sidelines the central characters while side characters take over without adding much to the narrative. At one point, it starts feeling like City Lights is built around Charan Raj’s music rather than the other way around.
The film takes a major hit because of its formulaic execution. It feels like an attempt to recreate the magic of Bheema and Salaga by taking elements that worked in those films and weaving a story around them, instead of organically developing a narrative.
Duniya Vijay’s Third Directorial Venture
City Lights marks Duniya Vijay’s third outing as a director, following Salaga in 2021 and Bheema in 2024. The film was produced by Vijay Kumar and Vikram Arya, with KVN Productions handling distribution. The film received an A certification from the censor board.
Duniya Vijay’s journey to filmmaking has been anything but conventional. From being a bodybuilder to working as a stuntman, an extra, and eventually a junior artist, his path to becoming an actor and director has been shaped by lived experience and an understanding of the worlds he creates on screen. His films consistently explore the struggles of middle-class people and the hidden realities of urban life.
The film was released across 150+ theatres in Karnataka. Vinay Rajkumar, who plays the lead, is the grandson of legendary actor Dr Rajkumar. Duniya Vijay has spoken about the significance of directing a member of the Rajkumar family, saying, “I grew up watching Dr Rajkumar’s films. Today, directing his grandson is a moment of immense happiness for me”.
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What Works and What Does Not
City Lights succeeds in its performances, particularly from Vinay Rajkumar and Umashree, and in its atmospheric portrayal of Bengaluru’s underbelly. The music by Charan Raj adds considerable depth to the storytelling, and the film’s commitment to addressing social issues like prostitution, transgender acceptance, and political corruption is commendable.
However, the film is held back by a screenplay that prioritises shock value over natural dialogue and a second half that loses focus on its central characters. The formulaic execution prevents the film from reaching the emotional heights it clearly aspires to.
City Lights is a film with a strong core that gets buried under the weight of its own ambitions. It offers a raw, unflinching look at a world rarely seen on screen, but its execution does not always live up to the promise of its premise. For fans of Duniya Vijay’s previous work, there are moments that resonate. For everyone else, it is a mixed bag that falls short of being the gripping thriller it could have been.
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