DEFIANT PEOPLE, SUBSERVIENT POLICE AND ARROGANT POLITICIANS

The Chinese despot, Mao Zedong said: “Politics is war without bloodshed; while war is politics with bloodshed.” Often enough politics too entails some bloodshed.

“ಕಂಬಾಲಹಳ್ಳಿ” (‘Kambalahalli’) is a 2002 Kannada film that portrays the shady, sordid side of politics. Based on a story penned by well-known politician, Munirathna, it draws inspiration from real-world incidents in Karnataka politics. The political drama features power-hungry conduct of people’s representatives; it received a mixed bag of reactions from critics.

Doddegowda (Doddanna) and Ramakrishna Adiga (GK Govinda Rao) are local political honchos of Kambalahalli. The two tyrannical leaders are at loggerheads with each other. Brahmayya (Mukhyamantri Chandru), a rice mill owner and ally of both the bigwigs, opportunistically exploits the local populace for personal gain. Come election time though, Brahmayya brokers peace between the powerful rivals.

Mallanna (Devaraj), a resident of the village, who is forced into taking up arms against the atrocities of the wealthy, jackbooted politicos. The Robin-Hood-like brigand, his close confidante, Rudrappa (Balaraj) and other henchmen live in the dense forests. Chennamma (Prema) and Savithri (Radhika Chaudhary) provide romantic succor to Mallanna.

A special police taskforce gets formed to nab the rebels, who vindictively slay Doddanna and his family.

So, is outlaw Mallanna apprehended and brought to justice?

Director Sendhil Nathan has struggled to coalesce cohesively the cinematic content of the flick. Munirathna’s story takes inspiration from contemporaneous political landscape. But, the weaving of real-life incidents into the screenplay sticks out like a sore thumb. Lack of consonance in the non-linear narration makes the film patchy.

In short, the flick has an appliqué-quilt-like quality, sans the aesthetics. Music of Hamsalekha is passable. Camerawork is alright. The gravity-defying fight sequences are too much to digest.

Devaraj has put in a respectable performance. Prema and Radhika Chaudhary have marginalized roles. Doddanna, GK Govinda Rao and Mukhyamantri Chandru are BRILLIANT in their support. Balaraj, CP Yogeshwar and others’ is adequate too.

On the whole, the theme of political intrigue makes the movie engrossing. As someone said, ‘Power does not corrupt people; people corrupt power.’

I rate this socio-political drama, if only for its attempt to dramatize predatory, dog-eat-dog world of Indian politics: 6.5 on 10!