POVERTY THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTION, PASSION ITS FATHER

It is often said that a call-girl sells her body only to those who have sold their morals. The sale takes place in a society that trades its soul.

“ಮಸಣದ ಹೂವು” (‘Masanada Hoovu’, literally: ‘Flower of (a) Graveyard’) is a 1985 Kannada flick, based on a novel of TR Subba Rao (TaRaSu), a literary giant. The movie deservingly won the applause of critics and appreciation of audiences; it received ample awards too.

The gut-wrenching, conscience-stirring drama was genius Puttanna Kanagal’s last directorial endeavor; his longtime associate, KSL Swamy completed it.

Tara Devi (Jayanthi), a brothel-keeper, has the high and mighty of society as her clientele. Once she lends money to desperate Singaru (Ambareesh), who becomes her pimp and Man Friday out of gratitude.

One day, a human trafficker sells Parvathy (Aparna), a teenaged, statuesque beauty, to Tara Devi, who forces her into the flesh trade. As a high-society call-girl, Parvathy is always in demand. Singaru develops a soft corner for Parvathy, and, the two share a special relationship with each other.

In due course, Singaru begs Tara Devi to release Parvathy from bondage. Whether he succeeds is what makes up the rest of this riveting drama…one for the ages.  

A touching story, straight from the pen of legend, TaRaSu; and, an absorbing script are the ingredients of the secret sauce of this movie, which explores the dark, dingy world of debauchery, and, exposes the sordid underbelly of society. It examines the social mores; moral values; and, economic woes that throw fuel into the fire of flesh-trade…and, its driving forces, greed, deception and depravity.

Director extraordinaire, Puttanna Kanagal is exceptional at mainstreaming offbeat themes. Uninhibited in his dramatization, he sassily throws in scads of sappy sentiment into the screenplay. Yet, he juxtaposes romanticism with great realism. Vulgarity too is portrayed with a degree of purity and sensitivity. Nevertheless, KSL Swamy, who gave the finishing touches to the film, perhaps could have toned down the melodrama a notch.

Music of genius Vijaya Bhaskar is terrific. Technical elements are in order. Refined and restrained Ambareesh excels in his role. Veteran Jayanthi is aptly dramatic in her portrayal. Loknath, Aparna, Hema Choudhary, Doddanna and others lend excellent support.

To paraphrase what someone said, the movie is a reminder that there can be “no juridical solution to prostitution, which poses a moral, social and economic challenge to society.”

I rate this social drama: 7.5 on 10!