ACTIONS THAT ABATE AMBITION IN LIFE

Motivational speakers routinely exhort that ‘success belongs to those who care not for circumstances to create opportunity for themselves’. True! Often though, circumstances intensify the drive in people for shaping successful lives.

“ಜೋಶ್” (‘Jhossh’, which translates in Kannada slang to ‘High Spirits’) is a 2009 Kannada film. The flick was a high grosser at the box office. After garnering both critical acclaim and popular applause, it went on an award-winning spree too. The movie was later remade in Tamil (Yuvan) and Telugu (Keratam).

Rocky (Rakesh Adiga), a college student, hails from a middle-class family. He constantly yearns for a loving relationship with his heartthrob. Poorna (Meena) rebuffs his romantic overtures though. The love smitten Rocky then shifts his attention to Meera (Nithya Menen).

The fallout: his academic performances suffer, even as his classmates pursue their respective passions and become upwardly mobile in life.

So how does the ‘coming of age’ plot pan out? Does it end on a “happily ever after” note?

That is the rest of the flick.

Director Shivamani has overseen the making of a socially relevant film about aspirations of and distractions for our youth― a theme that surely resonates well with every parent out there. His screenplay starts by depicting the frustration of the male lead; it then pulls inevitably inward from that dramatic moment to unveil the story with a certain sense of destiny in the narration.

Nonetheless, a major gripe…Shivamani has fallen prey to commercial compulsions; the trappings incorporated for the hoi polloi amplify the banality and minify impact of the narration. Vardhan’s debut music was well-received; the songs turned out to be chartbusters. Technical elements are so-so.

Rakesh Adiga, Meena and Nithya Menen have fared well in their lead roles. Achyuth Kumar and Sharan dazzle in their minor roles. Dwarakish, Sihi Kahi Chandru, Sudha Belavadi and Tulasi Shivamani are also featured in the supporting cast.

On the whole, the yarn does get hammy at times. You just shrug it off though …for, the core plot, which is about how the young should nurture and not fritter away the future in futile pursuits, is compelling enough to justify it.

I rate this romantic drama, with a poignant social theme of intrigue and inspiration: 7.0 on 10!