City Lights review: Vijay Kumar delivers raw, empathetic crime drama

City Lights, directed by Vijay Kumar, is set in Bengaluru's Majestic area and follows Shiva (Vinay Rajkumar), a village orphan who arrives in the city seeking work, and Monisha (Monisha Vijaykumar), a woman searching for her missing younger brother. Both are drawn into the city's underworld. Cinema Express calls it the director's 'rawest, most empathetic work yet,' praising the performances and the film's tenderness toward marginalised characters, including transgender people and sex workers. It notes the film's world-building and character work as strengths, though some subplots feel underutilised.

Deccan Herald, by contrast, says the film is 'fragmented and falls flat,' with too many narrative strands and a predictable plot. It finds some action sequences forced and criticises Umashree's performance as disappointing, while acknowledging Vinay Rajkumar's impressive action and Monisha's decent debut. Both outlets agree on the film's focus on the nexus of politicians, police, and criminals in Bengaluru's dark underbelly.