PEOPLE, NOT POWER, CORRUPT THE SYSTEM

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, traffickers, counterfeiters and cut-throat criminals.

Does the infiltration ploy work? Are the mobsters brought to book?

Or, does Sushil's cover get blown? Do the rogues and rascals get to exact retribution against Sushil?

That is the rest of the thriller.

Veteran SV Rajendra Singh Babu has not only directed this film, but also is partly accredited for the screenplay. He has kept the narrative tight and brisk– the result of some adept editing. Perhaps he could have gone easy with the dosage of violence and belligerence in the flick; but, the impact would have been compromised. The camerawork too contributes in no mean measure to the intensity of the story playing on celluloid. The maestro, GK Venkatesh's music is EXCELLENT, as always.

Ambareesh, as the male protagonist cast in a dual role, has put in a sterling performance, particularly in the persona of the anti-hero. Lakshmi, Jayamala and Latha are equally convincing, nay, striking in their respective roles. Tiger Prabhakar, Pandari Bai, Shaktiprasad, Sundar Krishna Urs, Vajramuni, et al, all doyens of Kannada films, render able support.

This flick questions the popular byword of 'might is right' and contrasts it with 'being right is might'. A major milestone, this movie will be etched in the memory of every connoisseur of Kannada films for a long time!

I rate this action thriller: 7.5 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

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