TREAT TERRORIST TO THWART TERROR

 “With guns you can kill terrorists, with education you can kill terrorism,” is a quote that sounds profound. But, reality reveals education often makes terrorism more sophisticated; and, terrorists more hardened.

"ಅತಿಥಿ" ('Atithi' or 'Guest') is a 2002 Kannada movie, which won the prestigious Certificate of Merit at the National Awards. It garnered critical acclaim and amassed laurels galore. The film looks to portray the psyche of the terrorist and reflects upon the rationale for terrorism.

The plot consists of a group of terrorists on the run after a successful attack. While plotting their next bombing, one of the terrorists (Prakash Rai) is injured in an accidental bomb blast. So, he is taken to the house of the local doctor (HG Dattatreya) for treatment. Held hostage, the doctor is forced to treat the terrorist under duress.

Do the outlaws carry out the next attack? Or, is their plan stymied?

The film is soft, even casual in depicting the serious issue of terrorism. Onscreen explanations for terror– either as a manifestion of a 'cycle of violence', or, as the precipitation of 'evil in all humans'– are trite and tedious. It is as if the attempt is to sugarcoat that societal bitter pill. It behooves our filmmakers to remember that condonation or justification of terror by camouflaging it as a retributive act is reprehensible... albeit in the fantasy world of films!

Despite the rough edges, veteran P Sheshadri is decent in one of his earliest directorial endeavours. The movie though suffers from a weak story and an average screenplay, notwithstanding many moments of intense emotion and absorbing dialogues in its scenes. Prakash Rai's rendition is legit. But, HG Dattatreya overshadows him with a powerful performance. Technically, the flick is fine and dandy.

The 'terror-apologistic' film, a crime drama is an interesting watch.

My rating is: 6.5 on 10!