Chitra Varga

“ T he only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it ,” said Oscar Wilde, the Irish poet and playwright. " ಎಡಕಲ್ಲು ಗುಡ್ಡದ ಮೇಲೆ ” (' Edakallu Guddada Mele ', which means: 'Atop the Edakallu Hill'), a 1973 Kannada film based on a novel of author Bharathisuta, is a social drama that explores relationships of “lust, desire and sex” . Madhavi (Jayanthi) is married to Captain Kumar, a war veteran, who sustained injuries during hostilities; the physical disability in his limbs has also caused impotency. Nanjunda (Chandrashekar) is rich, young and handsome; he has an itch for beautiful women. The playboy sets his eyes on Madhavi and seduces her on a trek; thereafter, he maintains regular sexual relations with her. Despite her guilt-ridden conscience, Madhavi is unable to refrain from the extra-marital affair. Nanjunda also tries to seduce Madhavi's sister, Devaki (Aarathi), whose moral compass is strong and puritanical. So Nanjunda's prurient, if not deviou...

“ The only thing more dangerous than ignorance is arrogance” – those are Albert Einstein's poignant words. " ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಗಾರುಡಿ " ( Shree Krishna Gaarudi') is a 1958  Kannada classic  film that drives home the point with é lan and elegance. The old world charm of the movie, in the genre of mythological drama , is heady! It was remade in Telugu in 1958 with the same title. The central theme of the film is the disharmony among the Pandavas about the distribution of powers after Dharmaraya's (BR Panthulu) coronation and ascension to the throne of Hastinapura. Arjuna (Rajkumar) and Bheema (Veeranna) feel humiliated when they do not get ministerial berths; the egotistic duo are enraged at their subordination to the younger Nakula and Sahadeva. Both are convinced that Krishna (Siddaiah Swamy) had hatched a conspiracy to slight and sideline them with inferior portfolios. This sets the stage up for the narrative of fervid drama intermixed with uplifting comedy . Bell...

Abd-ar-Razzak , a Timurid scholar and chronicler and a scholar who visited the Vijaynagar Empire in circa 1443 CE as an ambassador of Shah Rukh, the Timurid dynasty ruler of Persia wrote about the capital city during the reign of Deva Raya II as: “ the pupil of the eye has never seen a place like it, and the ear of intelligence has never been informed that there existed anything to equal it in the world. It is built in such a manner that seven citadels and the same number of walls enclose each other.” Other scholars and explorers– the long list includes, the Turkish polymath, Katib-tchelebi ; the Italian travellers, Niccolo de Conti and Cesare Federici ; and, the Portuguese traders, Domingo Paes and Fernao Nunes – have rhapsodised about the magnificence of the empire and the enormity of weath therein. " ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ದೇವರಾಯ "  (' Sri Krishnadevaraya ') is a1970, award-winning and critically hailed Kannada film. Oh, the blockbuster biopic went gangbusters at th...

“ Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit ,” mused Khalil Gibran. But, for that love to take root, it needs timely care and tender grooming. Oh, most vitally though, reciprocity is a prerequisite. " ಜಸ್ಟ್ ಮಾತ್ ಮಾತಲ್ಲಿ " (' Just Maath Maathalli ', which means “ Just While Chatting” ) is a commercially successful 2010 Kannada romantic film, which explores the dainty processes of 'falling in love' and fragility of relationships therein. Not in conformity with either the 'drama prototype' or the 'romance paradigm', the award-winning and critically-acclaimed movie makes you feel warm and fuzzy. The story follows a singer in a rock band, Siddharth's (Sudeep) efforts to find Tanu (Ramya) in Singapore for confessing his love for her.  On his flight, Siddharth meets Adi (Rajesh), a scriptwriter. The two engage in a conversation about Siddharth's past relationships with not only Tanu, but also Divya (Keerthi Gowda) Sudeep...

Physicist Albert Einstein was tongue in cheek when he declared, “ gravitation cannot be held responsible for falling in love ”. Indeed! But, “attraction” surely can be. Well, " ಕಥೆಯೊಂದು ಶುರುವಾಗಿದೆ " ('Katheyondu Shuruvagide', meaning: 'A Story Has Started') is a 2018 critically-acclaimed Kannada film– a romantic comedy, to boot– that features a plot of two broken-hearted people falling in love. Tarun (Diganth Manchale) is a boutique resort owner, who returned from the US to escape the mundane, robotic existence there. The inner calling, and the resultant leap of faith, led to the investment in the hospitality venture But, his entrepreneurial journey is sputtering and stuttering along; keeping the resort afloat is a struggle. Online reviews of the resort have been negative; his driver is madly in love with the receptionist, who is on the verge of quitting. He has demons– of past failures and present challenges– to exorcise too. In short, Tarun's cup o...

John Muir, the reputed American naturalist and environmental philosopher, apparently said: “The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.” Indeed so...unless the forest is the hideout of a notorious bandit like Veerappan (Kishore), in which case (to put it facetiously), the wilderness perhaps turns into a clear path out of the universe. " ಅಟ್ಟಹಾಸ " ( 'A ṭṭ ah ā sa' ) is a 2013  Kannada   biopic  film , based on the life and times of forest brigand  Veerappan– an ivory poacher, sandalwood smuggler, serial kidnapper, extortionist, mass murderer and a  numero uno  looter of forest wealth. He routinely killed not only police and forest range officers, but also those suspected of being police informers. Veerappan ruled the jungles for over twenty years when efforts to apprehend him were hampered by issues of inter-state law enforcement and judicial administration. The movie was co-released in Tamil as  Vana Yuddham. This 'real...

Roman Polanski, the renowned Polish-French movie director, once said: “C inema should make you forget you are sitting in a theater . Well, " ತಿಥಿ " (' Thithi ', meaning “Death Ceremony”)– a 2015 Kannada film that won widespread critical acclaim– gets you so engrossed in the narrative that it transports you to a remote, nondescript village in South Karnataka. An Indo-American joint endeavour, the comedy drama is about the social disarray and succession dynamics that engulf three generations of a family when the 101-year old patriarch dies leaving behind five acres of land. The independent flick starts with cranky Century Gowda (Singri Gowda), a wilted, withered centenarian of the village, taunting passersby. He then wobbles across to relieve himself when death comes knocking. Soon, the villlage is abuzz with talk of a grand community lunch on the eleventh day to celebrated the departed soul's ascension to the Lord's abobe. The deceased progenitor's son, ...