DARKNESS IN LIFE MAKES FOR GREAT DRAMA

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 what happens to Chandra and her child is the rest of the drama?

Directed elegantly by the Dorai–Bhagavan duo, the film’s emotion-packed plot entails the protagonists’ romantic relationship. It features their initial dash of love and dollops of joy; later it all morphs into a big scoop of sorrow for both. The drama is fast-paced enough to make young teenagers queue up at cinema theaters.   

The screenplay thankfully has kept commercial trappings to a minimum. The narrative, which features thwarted desires of characters tempting fate with their actions, enhances the richness of drama.

Chi. Udaya Shankar’s dialogues too energize the story. Music of Rajan–Nagendra set to lyrical compositions of Chi. Udaya Shankar is magical; all songs are evergreen hits. Technical aspects, specifically R. Chittibabu’s camerawork, are above par.

Anant Nag is PERFECT in his portrayal of a charming, flamboyant philanderer. Kalpana is restrained in the rendition of her role. Ashok, KS Ashwath, Padma Kumta, Jayalakshmi, Advani Lakshmi Devi, Balakrishna and others have lent excellent support.

I rate this romantic drama: 8.0 on 10!