Chitra Varga

Someone said that “ revenge is the raging fire that consumes the arsonist .” Idealism is writ large on the face of that opinion. Many may argue that sweet revenge often douses raging fires; others too may claim that there is a certain joy and satisfaction in retribution. “ ಶಂಕರ್ ಗುರು ” ( ‘Shankar Guru’ ) is a 1978 Kannada film, which gained huge popularity with the audiences; it was declared an ‘ Industry Hit ’ at the box office. The domestic drama, a bonanza on the musical pop-charts too, was remade in Hindi ( Mahaan ), Tamil ( Thirisoolam ) and Telugu ( Kumara Raja ). Rajashekhar (Dr. Rajkumar) is a well-off businessman, who wants to create wealth ethically. His crooked partners intend to start an illegal idol smuggling racket, which creates a rift with Rajashekhar. But, in a quirky twist of fate, Rajashekhar murders one of the partners. So, he is forced to flee from the law enforcement authorities along with his pregnant wife, Sumathi (Kanchana). With the pol...

Proponents of globalization claim that it makes communities more creative and people more prosperous. However, detractors warn that a borderless world is likely to make nations more vulnerable . “ ಭಾರತ್ ಸ್ಟೋರ್ಸ್ ” (‘ Bharath Stores ’) is a 2012 Kannada film that won widespread critical appreciation. Dealing with the impact of foreign direct investment on small businesses in the retail sector, the drama received a spate of awards, including the National Award. Bharathi (Sudharani), a non-resident Indian, returns to Bengaluru after several years along with her husband, Sharath (Chi Gurudatt), a techie. The couple witnesses with wonderment the frenetic pace of life in the metropolis and its fast-changing skyline― courtesy: the hustle-bustle of development, chaotic traffic notwithstanding. The first item on Bharathi’s agenda is the repayment of a loan her father had taken, to defray her marriage costs, from Govinda Shetty (HG Dattatreya), the owner of a grocery shop called ‘Bharath S...

Airing his view on drama, Alfred Hitchcock, the great auteur equated it with ‘ life minus the dull bits ’. Pithy and prudent articulation indeed! “ ಬಯಲು ದಾರಿ ” (‘ Bayalu Daari ’, which translates loosely to: ‘ Path in the Plains ’) is a 1976  Kannada  film. Based on the work of reputed novelist, Bharathi Sutha, the drama was a musical blockbuster. It was declared a smash hit at the box-office too. Chandra (Kalpana) is the affluent heiress of a large estate. Gopu (Anant Nag), a certified Casanova with chocolate boy looks, seduces Chandra, who succumbs to his overtures. Soon the two consummate their relationship sexually; in the result, Chandra becomes pregnant To shed the bad rap from his womanizer image, Gopu enlists in the armed forces. As fate would have it though, he is involved in an air accident and is declared dead. Devastated and stigmatized over conceiving out of wedlock, Chandra goes into depression. She becomes reclusive and refuses a second marriage. So...

“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) ...

The Earth offers its bounty only upon faithful stewardship. The flora and fauna in forests are part of the bonanza― safeguarding the bounty requires diligent care and guardianship. “ ಗಂಧದ ಗುಡಿ ” (‘ Gandhada Gudi ’, or ‘ Temple of Sandalwood’ ) is a 1973 Kannada film based on the theme of forest conservation and wildlife protection― the first Indian movie to do so. The crime drama, with a conjoint domestic drama in its narrative, portrayed the rich biodiversity of the State of Karnataka. Based on MP Shankar’s story, the flick was a blockbuster hit; it was remade in Hindi ( Kartavya ) too.   Kumar (Dr. Rajkumar) is a virtuous and industrious ‘range forest officer’ posted to the Nagarahole National Forest, which has a gang of lethal poachers and sandalwood smugglers operating in it. Inexplicable paranormal phenomena inside the dense jungle too are terrorizing folks in the vicinity. Immediately after taking charge, Kumar meets Anand (Vishnuvardhan), the son of Raja Venkatappa Naya...

Many believe religious conversion is a scourge in civil society. But, when crime and coercion drive the conversion attempt, it turns into a monstrous menace plaguing mankind. “ ದಾಟು ” (‘ Daatu’ , which means ‘Crossing’ ) is a 2009 Kannada movie about social orthodoxy, which tramples upon and truncates the rights of women. Based on Mysore Ashwatha’s short story, ‘ Dharmakonda ’, the critically-acclaimed drama makes you reflect on the mental trauma of subjects of forcible conversion, not to mention the social stigma attached to women who are abducted and assaulted. Annappa (Rajesh) is the tax collector of a place called Dharmakonda. His pious, loving wife, Sharada (Roopa Iyer), a beauty in the classical mold, is held in high esteem by one and all in the local community. Sharada is prudent in her words; compassionate in deeds; and progressive in thought. She personifies humanistic values too. While cleaning the puja room at home, Sharada unwittingly opens a cloth bundle to find a pair o...

Crime, as someone said, is as much a condition as an intention. Indeed it is the culmination of the intentions of the criminal; and, a reflection of the conditions within the community. “ ಸ್ಲಂ ಬಾಲ ” (‘ Slum Bala’ ) is a 2008 Kannada film about the police-politician nexus and crime-corruption locus within society. Based on Agni Sridhar’s novel, ‘ Daadaagiriya Dinagalu ’, t he critically-acclaimed flick narrates the story of gangster Vinayaka Bala, a hired gun on the payroll of powerful politicos . Balakrishna (Vijay), or, Bala, for short, is a ‘rowdy-sheeter’ in the crosshairs of the police authorities. Origins from an urban ghetto earn the nickname ‘Slum Bala’ for the notorious gangster. Police Inspector Shantaram (Shashikumar) banishes the brawny, bit-of-a-bonehead Bala from Bengaluru as a precautionary measure for ensuring violence-free elections. So, Slum Bala sets out to Mumbai and gets hired as a dance-bar bouncer. He even gets romantically involved with Mallige (Shubha Poonja...

Some say that we are born not to change destiny, but to fulfill it . Fatalistic opinion, for sure! On the flip side, man often builds grand castles in the air about the future. But, destiny invariably disrupts the plans; blindsides bizarrely and has the last laugh. “ ಗಾಳಿ ಗೋಪುರ ” (‘ Gaali Gopura ’― it translates literally to ‘ Wind Tower ’, but means ‘ Castle in Air ’) is a 1962 Kannada film, based on a story penned by the well-known Tamil writer, MS Solamalai. The bilingual drama, a blockbuster, was later released in Telugu ( Gaali Medalu ). The movie was remade in Hindi ( Bharosa ) and Malayalam ( Kalanjukittiya Thankam ). Ranganna (KS Ashwath) is a rich man who suffers from tuberculosis. Believing to be on his death bed, Ranganna hands over a large sum on money and entrusts his young son, Krishna (Rajkumar) to Govindaiah (R Nagendra Rao). Avaricious Govindaiah pounces on the opportunity to make a quick buck though; he packs up discreetly and relocates to a new town. His wife Sha...