Chitra Varga

It has been observed that ‘ music carries a message, and that musicians are the messengers’ . Interesting take; but, the path to success for musicians, the messengers of music, is oft strewn with obstacles and filled with detractors. “ ಉಪಾಸನೆ ” (‘ Upasane ’, or, ‘ Worship ’ in English) is a 1974 Kannada film, based on Devaki Murthy’s novel of the same name, which has music as its thematic fulcrum. It was a runaway musical mega blockbuster. The musical drama and its artists practically went on an award-winning spree; it was critically hailed too. Sharada (Aarathi) is a child prodigy in music. Recognizing her talent and passion, Veene Anantha Shastry (Upasane Seetharam), an orthodox musician, accepts her as a disciple. She aspires to pursue a career in classical music, but faces several impediments, both within the family and without . After marriage, Sharada’s in-laws are initially supportive of her pursuits. Later, they become antagonistic and take umbrage against Sharada sp...

‘ Money cannot buy love, ’ many say! But, it can surely usher cheer, cordiality and camaraderie in the lives of people. After all, folks swarm around the moneyed like bees to a honeypot! “ ಕಾಸಿದ್ರೆ ಕೈಲಾಸ ” (‘ Kasidre Kailasa ’, which equates to: ‘ Affluence is Heaven ’) is a 1971 Kannada film, which stresses the need for due care while managing money matters. The core plot of the film was used in a Hindi film ( Sabse Bada Rupaiya ). It fared well in its ticket-booth collections. A stinking-rich, but compassionate man, Gopi (Dr. Rajkumar) is a spendthrift. Naïve, trusting to a fault, Gopi is surrounded by a bunch of flunkies, who live off him. While Gopi harbors affection for the sidekicks, they see the former only as a golden goose. Shakuntala (Vanisri) is his romantic interest. One day Gopi sees Ramu (Udaykumar), a well-educated, unemployed graduate reeling under the pangs of hunger and reaching out for a few morsels of leftovers on the street. He feeds Ramu and takes him as a b...

Many say that a bad system will foil a good person’s plans every time . So too, a crooked politician in power will spoil a good system every time. That is telling like it is…without mincing words! “ ಕಳ್ಳರ ಸಂತೆ ” (‘ Kallara Santhe ’, which means: ‘ Thieves’ Fair ’) is a 2009 Kannada film, which revolves around systemic degeneracy. Based on a story that Agni Sridhar has penned, the drama has for its theme the disenchantment of citizenry with corruption and the political class. It found favour with movie buffs, who poured piles of positive reviews on it…so too, its appreciative audiences. Somu (Yash) is a young unemployed man, who holds a MA degree in Kannada literature having passed with flying colours. He has difficulty landing attractive job offers because of his average abilities with English and inability to give bribes. So he tries his hand at several odd jobs, before finally ending up as a burglar. Somu saves Roopa (Haripriya), a lady who’s rejected numerous matrimonial pr...

Opinion leaders have oft repeated that the goal of population stabilization is to “reduce or minimize misery. ” The great science writer, Isaac Asimov even decreed: “ Democracy cannot survive over-population. ” There is enough empirical evidence and academic research to support those views. “ ಬೋರೇಗೌಡ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿಗೆ ಬಂದ ” (‘ Boregowda Bengaloorige Banda ’, which means: ‘ Boregowda Came to Bengaloor ’) is a 1970 Kannada film that has the link between poverty and population for a theme. With its chartbusting tracks, the movie was a musical megahit. A poor villager, Boregowda, also Boranna (Rajesh), moves to Bangalore in search of a better life. In tow are his wife, Gowravva (Leelavathi) and five children. Destitute and distressed, the naïve folks have a difficult time adjusting to the fast-paced, dog-eat-dog life in their city of dreams. Boranna gets acquainted in time with Rajanna (Srinath), a Robin-Hood-like do-gooder, who has Lakshmi (B Vijayalakshmi), a street vendor, as his love...

Sidney Sheldon, the American writer exhorted all to: ‘ Leave the Earth a better place than when you arrived. ’ Profusely profound…a must if a global cataclysm and ecological apocalypse are to be avoided! “ ದೇವರ ಕಾಡು ” (‘ Devara Kadu’ , which means: ‘ God’s Forest ’) is a 1993 Kannada movie, which delves into the backwash of and linkage between urban influx and agrarian stress. The award-winning, highly acclaimed movie depicts the heartrending story of an impoverished family’s battle for survival. Range officers drive out an entire hamlet of tribals from a forest sanctuary. Marappa (R Chandrashekhar), and his wife, Kenchi (Kirtana Kumar), lose their home and are resettled in the plains. After her husband dies, Kenchi moves to the city along with her son, Deva (as a child, Prabhu; as a boy, Kantaraj; and, as adult, KT Abraham), in search of greener pastures…nay, two square meals a day. In the alien, apathetic environs of the city, Kenchi and Deva slog and strive to make both ends m...

They say a home is where love, hope and dreams start. Of course, those sentiments are amplified when the home is self-owned. That in turn is predicated on the purchase of a home. “ ಯಾರಿಗೂ ಹೇಳ್ಬೇಡಿ ” (‘ Yarigoo Helbedi ’, which means: ‘ Do Not Tell Anyone ’) is a 1994 Kannada comedy, which has been accorded ‘ cult ’ status over the years. Set in the 1990s, the film has the middle-class aspiration of home ownership for its core plot. The movie was a mediocre success commercially; it did gain critical approval though. It has since been remade in Tulu. Champa (Vanitha Vasu), the only daughter and heiress apparent of a rich man (Shivaram), works in a travel agency. Govinda (Anant Nag), a glib-slick operator, woos Champa; he wants to wed her also. But, Champa’s father insists that he’ll consent only if the suitor, asking for her hand, owns a residential plot. So Govinda hatches an ingenious plot to cheat gullible folks of their money by deceptively promising to get residential site...

Opinions are polarized on capital punishment. Some say, it is a must for protecting lives in civil society. Other claim it is cruel and basically wrong as a cure for crime. Regardless, the topic is one that will eternally elude unanimity in any debate or discussion. “ ಹಗ್ಗದ ಕೊನೆ ” [‘ Haggada Kone ’, which translates to: ‘ End of (the) Rope ’], a 2014 Kannada film, is an adaptation of a play that renowned playwright, Parvathavani, has penned. The crime drama created waves in critical circles. It received a spate of awards too; and, was screened at numerous international film festivals. The protagonist, Chenna (Naveen Krishna) is convicted of murder; so, he is sentenced to death. His troubled conscience questions and blames his bosom friend (Mohan), father (V Manohar) and teacher (HG Dattatreya) for his pitiable state of woe and misery.   In a subconscious reverie though, Chenna meets them tête-à-tête and argues about who is responsible for his actions. The jailor (Suchendra P...

Many have extolled the economic progress, cultural refinements, scientific achievements and spiritual advances of ancient and medieval India. Historians concur that the glorious past was on an upswing during the rule of the Chalukyas in South India. Pulakeshi II, who lived in the 7 th Century CE, was the greatest monarch of the Badami Chalukya dynasty. He expanded the empire to encompass most parts of the Deccan in peninsular India during his reign. He lost his empire eventually to the Pallava sovereign, Narasimhavarman I. After ascending the throne, Pulakeshi II suppressed internal revolts and rebellions. He waged wars and defeated neighboring potentates and annexed their kingdoms― most notable of his victories were against the Ganga s of Talakadu; the Kadamba s of Banavasi; and, the Maurya s of Konkana.  The decimation of the Pallava emperor, Mahendravarman I in battle aside, Pulakeshi subjugated the rulers of Kalinga and Dakshina Kosala .   His conquest of Empe...

A romanticist mused that the only happiness in life is to love and to be loved. Easier said than done, for love is often elusive…exhausting too. On top, even when love is present in life, joy is slippery like an eel.     “ ಪ್ರೇಮಲೋಕ ” (‘ Premaloka ’; Translation: ‘ World of Love ’) is a 1987 Kannada film, which had college love, romance and infatuation for its core plot. The romantic drama, a musical blockbuster, was heavily inspired by the English flick, Grease 2. It was released simultaneously in Tamil ( Paruva Ragam ) too. The bilingual raked in a windfall for its producers. Ravi (V Ravichandran) is a teenager who has busy parents, who are socialites. The result: he is cared for and brought up by his maid, Sharadamma (Leelavathi), he develops a special bond with her. He enrolls for college and goes nuts over his classmate, Shashikala, also Shashi (Juhi Chawla), a ravishing beauty that the entire college is gung-ho about. On the contrary, Shashikala is mad about an anon...

Good governance is about achieving economic growth without sacrificing social justice. The two though are often at loggerheads with each other.   So, the need of the hour in an egalitarian establishment is a benevolent system that works; and, politicians who stand up for  the displaced; the deprived; and, the downtrodden . “ ಭೂಮಿ ಗೀತ ” (‘ Bhoomi Geetha ’― it means: ‘ Song of the Earth ’) is a 1997 Kannada film. The award-winning movie, set in the post-independence decade of 1950s, has sustainability and balanced development for its concept. It was critically well-received too. Shankar (Atul Kulkarni) is an authoritarian bureaucrat, who believes in rapid economic and industrial development of the nation. Entrusted with the task of completing an irrigation project, Shankar is in a hurry to evacuate residents of a nearby tribal hamlet, which is likely to get inundated once the barrage is built. Rangayya (Lokesh), a public works contractor too is eager to have the lands acqu...