PEEK INTO THE UNDERBELLY OF THE UNDERWORLD

The work of assassins is in the seedy, dark underworld; its impact is felt in the open, bright world of the mainstream though. That’s an undeniable fact. But, what effect does the assassin’s work in the macrocosm of fugitive dons, criminal gangs and villainous mobsters have on his own microcosm of personal life and love?

“ಎದೆಗಾರಿಕೆ” (‘Edegarike’ or ‘Guts’) is a 2012 Kannada film that takes a realistic look into the misty-murky world of sharpshooters. The crime drama won widespread critical appreciation and was a huge success at the box-office too. Agni Shridhar’s literary work of the same name provides the plot, which is evidently inspired by true incidents and real gangsters from the 1990's.

The flick has the male protagonist, Sona (Aditya), a hitman, who works in tandem with Tukaram Shetty (Achyuth Kumar), a planner of contract killings. Having taken scores of lives, Sona has oodles of blood on his hands. But, he wants to relinquish crime; return to a humdrum routine and resurrect his prosaic life…all for marital bliss with his flame, Rashmi (Akanksha Mansukhani).

This love-smitten wish does not go well with Sona’s fugitive, Dubai-based don, who issues a supāri (‘contract killing’) diktat through Muthappanna (Dharma). Sridhar (Atul Kulkarni) is the hitman assigned to pull the trigger on Sona’s life.

Does Sona survive the attempt on his life? Or, is he able to escape from the jaws of death?

Director D. Sumana Kittur has masterfully created for the big-screen a crime drama, sans cold, crass, stupid violence in the cinematic cocktail. She has added a judicious dash of romance into the narrative that enhances the creative quotient. She has grippingly portrayed bloody wars of crime syndicates…and, the dead ends that await gun-slinging gangsters in their dog-eat-dog world.

Sumana's loud-‘n-clear message: Stay away from quicksand-like whirlpools in the cesspool of crime, for there is no knowing when your friendly mobster will turn into a Frankenstein monster!

A good script, strong dialogues and fast-paced screenplay, not to mention the stimulating background score make for intense drama. The casting is PERFECT. Acting too is equally IMPECCABLE across the board– Atul Kulkarni, Srujan Lokesh, Achyuth Kumar and Aditya, in particular, have delivered stellar performances!

I rate this crime drama: 8.5 on 10!