DRAMA ABOUT THE DEMERITS OF DEATH PENALTY

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 Prasad) walks into Chenna’s cell in the early hours, wakes him up and briefs him about the impending execution. Chenna then engages in a deep, didactic dialogue with the jailor on the merits and demerits of capital punishment. He discloses the reasons for his heinous crime too.

So does Chenna get a last-minute reprieve at the gallows?

Or, does the rulebook prevail?

Director Dayal Padmanabhan has spun a riveting story about death row; the thought-provoking drama is devoid of commercial elements. Equipped with an intense theme and crisp script, the film gives you a wallop out of its narration! He starts the story with the executioner’s preparations, the centre-of-gravity of the plot, and pulls the story inwards. That is a stroke of genius!

Powerful dialogues drive Dayal’s no-frills, bare-bone screenplay. Wish he had generously used his cinematic license to add a better garnish of creative content though! The staged-drama-like approach to narrating a grim story on the big screen is disappointing. Yet, the movie scores high on the ‘realism index’, particularly because Dayal does not soft-pedal death.

The camerawork of S Pandi Kumar is stupendous given that much of the story unfolds within the confines of a prison cell. The editing is on par too. Gowtham Srivatsa’s minimalistic music is alright― the dirges therein befit the dystopian drama onscreen about reprisal and death.

The grim, gritty performance of Naveen Krishna, with tension writ large on his face with the Sword of Damocles hanging on the head, is commendable. There is no bigger antagonist than the Grim Reaper! Srinivasa Murthy, HG Dattatreya, Sihi Kahi Geetha, Tharun Sudhir, Suchendra Prasad and others have done justice to their roles in support.

As someone once said, ‘capital punishment is the source of many an argument, both good and bad.’ Devoid of crass commercial elements, the movie offers deep insights into the last few moments of a death row inmate. Oh…the true winner of this lovely movie, a compelling watch, is its brilliant writer, Parvathavani!

I rate this ‘day-in-the-life’ or life drama, a parallel cinema gem: 8.0 on 10!