ACTIONS CREATE FATE AND DESTINY

It is often said: ‘What goes around comes around.’ Indeed so! As someone said, karma is like a boomerang; and, on top it works in mysterious ways.

“ಋಣ ಮುಕ್ತಳು” [‘Ruṇamuktaḷu’, meaning: ‘(a lady who is) debt-free’], a 1984 Kannada film, is based on renowned writer, Anupama Niranjana’s novel ‘Runa’. Critics lauded the domestic drama, which has the karmic theme of ‘how you sow, so do you reap’. 

Ramappa (Sundar Krishna Urs) is a corrupt, government engineer. Goda (Bharati), Ramappa’s beautiful wife, is against his nefarious and unscrupulous ways; but, she does not interfere. The couple has a son, Ranganatha (Ramakrishna), who grows to be a volatile, impulsive and rebellious man. The other son is obedient, studious and becomes a doctor.

During a visit to his village, Ramappa has a fling with an innocent village belle, Malli (Padma Vasanthi), who begets a son from the illicit affair. Ramappa though keeps the birth of the illegitimate son a secret. Eventually, a conman, Adiseshaiah (Master Hiriyannaiah) and his daughter, Vishalakshi (Ashalatha) defraud Ramappa of his wealth accumulated through dubious means.

The rest of the engrossing narrative then is about how Ramappa’s family comes to terms with their penury and fall from grace. The long and short of the drama is: ‘Easy come; easy go’. The climax of the movie is emotion stirring and thought provoking.

Directed by Puttanna Kanagal, the Zen master of drama, the film subtly delivers its anti-corruption message― without being sermonic in the delivery. Kanagal is IMPECCABLE in his casting choices, not to mention his fast-moving screenplay. Wish he had toned down the theatrics a notch or two though!

Vijay Bhaskar’s original score is scintillating― the result of the standout ensemble of musicians in his orchestra. Vijaya Narasimha, another giant, has composed the lyrics of the tracks. The camerawork and editing are somewhat staid and straight-laced though.

Bharati is BRILLIANT in her role; so too, Padma Vasanthi― their beauty catches the eye; the character of their roles touches the heart. The dignity of the portrayed roles is mind-boggling. Sundar Krishna Urs, Rajanand, Ramakrishna, and others have excelled in their respective roles too.

The karma-based film serves as a reminder that ‘the evil you do remains with you; the good you do comes back to you.’

I rate this domestic drama: 7.5 on 10!