WITH AN UNLIMITED LICENSE TO THRILL

While at work, who hangs out with sexy sirens in skimpy wear? Who gets into gunfights with gangsters... with the thrill of thumping thugs and toughies...dueling devious, devilish dons? And, comes out on top...everytime...all the time?

The answer: Bond...James Bond!

The Bond spy thriller franchise based on a fictional MI6 agent started in 1962 with Dr. No's release. Immensely successful, the Bond series inspired directors B Dorairaj and SK Bhagavan into making a character-based trilogy along similar lines in Kannada– a pioneering effort in the country.

"ಜೇಡರ ಬಲೆ" ('Jedara Bale', which means 'Spider Web') is a 1968 Kannada film belonging to the spy-thriller genre, a first in India. Matinee idol Rajkumar was cast in the lead role of Prakash, code-named as CID Agent 999. The blockbuster paved the way for the production of similar films and remakes in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam, featuring Jaishankar, Krishna and Prem Nazir respectively in lead roles.

The pathbreaking movie revolves around the efforts of Prakash to stop gangsters from getting an alchemical method, which converts any metallic object into gold. Directors Dorai-Bhagavan have kept the screenplay smooth and swift. The usual Bond masala and machismo aplenty are packed into the plot in good measure. In short, they have experimented fiercely and fearlessly in their maiden, but somewhat amateurish effort; and, pushed the envelope on creativity at a time when social tear-jerkers, historical melodrama and religious histrionics dominated the landscape of the silver screen.

Rajkumar has sincerely portrayed his role as the original Bond's “poor desi cousin” with swag and aplomb. Veteran actor, Udaykumar has enacted the role of head honcho of hoodlums. Jayanti adds Bond-girl-like glamor quotient and sex appeal; Narasimharaju provides comic relief.

The music compositions of veteran GK Venkatesh are upbeat and sonorous; the tunes are similar in style, rhythm and texture to the theme tracks of the Bond classics.

On the whole, the trailblazing effort stimulates with enough action and suspense in the story-telling.

I rate the flick: 7.5 on 10!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

COMEDY OF THE SURREAL WITH THE REAL

Image
Salman Rushdie in his book ‘The Satanic Verses’ equated a ghost, perhaps flippantly, to ‘ unfinished business ’. The novelty in the esoteric comparison is surely undeniable.      “ಸು ಫ್ರಮ್ ಸೊ ” ( Su From So ) is a 2025 Kannada comedy film that uses a horror theme to throw light on an evil that plagues every misogynistic, male dominated society.   The movie touches upon the exploitation of women, who have to also endure often the trivialisation and normalisation of such occurrences. Set in the village of Marluru in Coastal Karnataka, the flick features Ravi Anna  (Shaneel Gautham) as a Good Samaritan and the big, alpha male of the local community. Sycophantic sidekicks— Chandra (Prakash Thuminad), Satisha (Deepak Panaje) and others— surround Ravi Anna , the go-to guy for local affairs of the village. Enter Ashoka (JP Thuminad), a young man, who all and sundry believe is possessed by the ghost of a deceased lady called Sulochana from Somes...
Read more

THE POWER OF A POET’S PEN

Image
Bhagat Singh, the Indian martyr, a famous revolutionary and freedom fighter, said eloquently and insightfully: “ Bombs and pistols do not make revolution. The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting-stone of ideas. ” No doubt, those ideas take birth in the minds of writers and are nurtured with the pen. “ ಮೈಸೂರು ಮಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ” ( ‘Mysooru Mallige’ , which translates to ‘Jasmine of Mysooru’) is a 1992 Kannada film, which won countless state and national awards. Based on reputed poet KS Narasimhaswamy’s soulful, splendid poetry― a first of its kind― the movie was critically acclaimed. Set in Colonial India, the period drama was a runaway success commercially. The female protagonist, Padma (Sudharani) is a coy, carefree girl, who loses her heart to Manjunatha alias Manju (Anand), a school teacher. A fervent patriot, Manju’s pastime is poetry, which is rich in literary elegance and aesthetic appeal. A village accountant and instrument of British India’s feudal system, Padma’...
Read more

CLAUSTROPHOBIC CONFINES OF THE COVID PANDEMIC AND COMEDIC DRAMA

Image
It is oft said that ‘variety is the spice of life’! Surely true, that…except when the variety pertains to marital affairs and matrimonial matters! “ ಇಕ್ಕಟ್ ” (‘ Ikkat , which translates to: ‘ Crisis’ and also ‘Dilemma’ ), is a 2021 Kannada language film, written, directed and edited by Haseen and Esham Khan. The sweet, situation comedy, rib-tickling if I may add, features the lives of a young, middle-class couple during the COVID-lockdown. Vasu (Nagabhushana) and his wife, Janvi (Bhoomi Shetty) constantly squabbles over trivialities. One such spat gets the couple to even contemplate divorce. Dude Maga (RJ Vikki), Janvi’s TikTok buddy lands up unannounced and suggests elopement. Janvi flatly rejects the proposition; however, she allows Dude Maga to stay on surreptitiously without Vasu’s knowledge. In the meantime, Vasu’s relative, Karna Uncle (Sundar Veena) too shows up uninvited. That prepares the perfect recipe for some hilarious moments entailing exorcism of imaginary ghost...
Read more