Chitra Varga

To paraphrase the American columnist and humorist, Molly Ivins, s atire is the weapon of the powerless against the powerful . That weapon is portrayed with patent potency in “ ಚಿತೆಗೂ ಚಿಂತೆ ” (‘ Chitegu Chinte ’, which translates somewhat nebulously to ‘ Distress Too of (the) Funeral Pyre ’), a 1978 Kannada comedy. The allegorical masterpiece won critical acclaim. The satirical flick is set on a fictional island, Gajadweepa. The male protagonist, Gajasimha (CR Simha), is a pretty pedestrian actor; yet, he is popular among his ardent fans. Boss, a gangster, power-broker and political master, pulls strings from a hospital bed inside a blind home. He ropes in Gajasimha to enhance his party’s poll prospects. Gajasimha takes to politics like fish to water. The new avatar only caters to his narcissistic desires. Gajasimha, however, wins the election and is sworn into the government. In due course, he becomes too big for his boots and turns against his mentor, who entrusts Malini (Manjul...

The American novelist, Ernest Hemingway wrote: “ All things truly wicked start with innocence. ” Perhaps; but, the truly wicked always ends with trauma…and, at times, stigma, which sacrifice saves. “ ಸುಪ್ರಭಾತ ” (‘ Suprabhāta ’, which means ‘ Auspicious Dawn ’) is a 1988 Kannada movie, which impressed critics and enamored audiences. The romantic drama was a musical extravaganza; a commercial megahit, it won awards by the dozen too. Vijay Kumar (Vishnuvardhan) is the owner of a petrol bunk on a hill station. He leads a lonely, reclusive life out of choice. The shyness and introversion stems from his past speech disorder. He does engage in long monologues though, perhaps to break out of his boredom.   Enter Hema (Suhasini), a very reticent, reserved lady…and Vijay’s attraction to her blossoms into love. But soon, Vijay tumbles upon Hema’s dark past. So how does the discovered secret impact the romance? That is the rest of the film. Penned and directed by Dinesh Baboo, the roman...