Chitra Varga

“ Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything, ” Plato, the Athenian philosopher mused. “ ಮಲಯ ಮಾರುತ ” (‘ Malaya Marutha’ , which translates to, ‘ Wind in the Hills ’) is a 1986 Kannada film that is a masterpiece focused on the rich musical and cultural traditions of South India. Based on Tamil scholar, Valampuri Somanathan’s story and armed with Chi. Udayashankar’s script, the drama is a musical extravaganza. The core plot of the film is a “love triangle”. The male protagonist in the romantic drama is Vishwanatha (Vishnuvardhan), Vishwa for short, a sincere, soft-spoken, soft-hearted student of Carnatic music. Short on talent, the vocalist is tireless in his efforts at mastering the art though. His music teacher’s daughter, Sharada (Saritha) is romantically attracted to him. One day, Vishwa’s teacher dies in a road accident. In an attempt to realise dreams and aspirations, the artistic soul of the teacher enters Vishwa...

“ You don’t love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear, ” mused   Oscar Wilde, the renowned Irish poet and playwright. Overly simplified, for sure! " ಅನುರಾಗ ಅರಳಿತು " (' Anuraga Aralithu ', meaning: ' Passion Bloomed '), a 1986 Kannada film, has matrimonial disputes and discontent for its theme. The flick was critically applauded; it was a mega blockbuster hit. Based on HG Radhadevi's novel ' Anuragada Anthahpura ', the domestic drama was remade in six languages– Tamil (' Mannan '), Telugu (' Gharana Mogudu '), Hindi (' Laadla '), Bengali (' Jamaibabu Jindabad '), Bangladeshi Bengali (' Shami Strir Juddho '); and, Odia (' Sindura Nuhein Khela Ghara '). The film's plot is centred around Ashadevi ( Madhavi ), a rich, successful industrialist. She is full of feminist fervour and high on egotistic pride, to the point of a...

Prejudices are deep-rooted in every community...be it, color-, caste-, creed- or class-based! It is paradoxical though that in India the establishment perpetuates caste system in every walk of life. " ಶಂಖ ನಾದ " (' Shankha Nada ', which translates to: ' Tone of the Conch ') is a 1986 award-winning, critically-acclaimed Kannada movie based on writer, Dr. AV Vani's literary work. The political drama has peaceful class struggle and political equality as its theme; it uses satire to dramatise the story-telling. The flick starts with a government servant instructing Shekhara Sampige (Ramesh Bhat) to obtain a caste certificate from the Panchayat office in his home town of Sampige. Shekhara visits the village and meets the panchayat chairman, Dasayya (Aravind), who belongs to an under-privileged section of the local community. Despite heading the local administration, Dasayya, and his wife Yenki (Abhinaya), are routinely subjected to oppression and discrim...