LIFE IS A PRETTY LIE; DEATH AN UGLY TRUTH

Eiji Yoshikawa, the renowned Japanese writer said: “The line between life and death is not thicker than an eyelid.” Deep, insightful words for sure. "ಗೀತಾ" ('Geetha') is a 1981 Kannada romantic drama, which portrays the vicissitudes of life and the incertitude of death with stirring sensitivity.  

The plot features Geetha (Akshatha Rao alias Padmavathi Rao), a college student's romantic pursuit of a suave and smart singer, Sanjay (Shankar Nag). Sanjay spurns her advances aloofly, arrogantly. A past tragedy is the hidden secret that has made him reserved.

But then, who can escape Cupid's exertions? Sanjay too later succumbs to infectiously vivacious Geetha's lures and love blossoms...only to hit roadblocks. Geetha's personal health, on one side; family opposition to the relationship, on the other, impede the romantic liaison leading to matrimonial alliance. Diagnosed with leukemia, Geetha's condition worsens.

But then, Interferon, a new drug developed in California, offers hope of a cure. Does it pave the way for a fairy-tale, lovey-dovey ending?

Shankar Nag has directed this classic with a soft, tender and poetic touch. Arundhati and Shankar Nag's screenplay is brisk. Ilairaja's compositions in the score, set to lyrics of Chi. Udayashankar, are evergreen classics. The onscreen narrative deflates the upbeat mood that the music injects. Many of the film tracks– 'Santoshakke', 'Jotheyali' and 'Nanna Jeeva'– have been adapted into the music of other Tamil and Hindi films. SP Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki's playback songs are OUTSTANDING. Technically, the film is somewhat dated.

As the male protagonist, Shankar Nag has put up a sterling performance; it matches his real-life, rock-star image and onscreen persona to a tee. Akshatha Rao had the tough challenge of delivering an intensely emotional performance sans melodrama. She is credible in her portrayal. The supporting cast of KS Ashwath, Ramesh Bhat, et al too contributes to the cinematic experience with deft renditions. Tiger Prabhakar is terrific in his cameo as an astrologer.

The movie reminds you of George Santayana's poignant, paraphrased advice of 'living and enjoying life, the interval between birth and death.'

I rate this blockbuster romantic drama: 8.0 on 10!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE ETERNAL STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE ALIEN AND THE INDIGENOUS

Image
“ We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors— we borrow it from our children ”, despite its triteness, is a poignant and profound expression that all of mankind must remember. The attritional interplay between economic development and environmental protection serves as a canvas for “ ಬೆಟ್ಟದ ಜೀವ” " ( Bettada Jeeva – Life of the Hill), a Nati onal Award-winning Kannada film. The movie– set in 1942 when the independence movement was at its zenith– is based on Jnanpith Awardee, Dr. Shivaram Karanth's novel by the same name. The plot revolves around the protagonist, Shivaramu, a young freedom fighter on the run, who is lost in the hilly terrain and dense jungle of the Western ghats. Strangers lead Shivaramu to Kelabailu, a small hamlet where he takes refuge in the house of an old man, Gopalaiah. Overwhelmed by the warmth and hospitality of his hosts and in deference to their insistence, Shivaramu extends his stay at Kelabailu– an outpost of civilisation untouched by ...
Read more

PEOPLE, NOT POWER, CORRUPT THE SYSTEM

Image
It has been said that ' behind every great fortune is a great crime .' Indeed, fortune is undeniably the frequent causa causans for crime. " ಅಂತ " (' Anta ', which translates to ' End ') is a 1981 Kannada film, which delves into the murky world of the corrupt and the criminal. Based on HK Anantha Rao's story, it was remade in Tamil (' Thyagi '), Telugu (' Atham Kadidi Aarambam ') and Hindi (' Meri Aawaz Suno '). This landmark action thriller was hugely successful at the box-office. Sushil Kumar (Ambareesh), an upright, diligent police inspector, is living happily with his pregnant wife, Sunitha (Lakshmi) and his mother (Pandari Bai). It is happenstance that he bears an uncanny resemblance to Kanwar Lal (also Ambareesh), a dreaded, notorious gangster serving a life term in prison for murder. So, the police hatch a plot to plant Sushil in Kanwar's place if only to penetrate and bust the latter's gang of smugglers,...
Read more

THE THRILL OF THE PERFECT HEIST

Image
“He who does not prevent a crime when he can, encourages it,” observed the Roman philosopher Seneca. That perhaps is the raison dꞋetre for the eternal cat-and-mouse game between cop and criminal. “ ನವಗ್ರಹ ” (‘ Navagraha’, which translates to ‘ Nine Planets ’) is a 2008 Kannada film, which over the years has attained the status of a cult classic. Heavily inspired by Reservoir Dogs, this heist movie was a runaway success at the box-office. The film revolves around Jaggu (Darshan), a dacoit with a history of high-profile thefts. An international antique collector engages Jaggu to steal the golden howdah― the main attraction showcased during the Dasara festivities― from the Mysore palace. Jaggu accepts the brief and soon embarks on his mission. He assembles a team of fellow henchmen and hatches a foolproof, audacious plan. The gang of seven men and two women, diverse in skill and savvy, collaborates to pull off the caper. An astute, discerning police officer, ACP Bhagat (Sourav) ...
Read more