Chitra Varga

Karma, it’s said, is like a boomerang─ you get what you give.    A great leveler, it does take some pushing and prodding at times though. “ ಬಯಸದೇ ಬಂದ ಭಾಗ್ಯ ” (‘ Bayasade Banda Bhagya’ , which translates to: ‘ Undesired Fortune ’), is a 1977 Kannada film that has karmic circularity for its theme. Based on a story penned by Tamil writer, Bala Murugan, the flick has a somewhat banal ‘ bridging the rich-poor divide ’ plot about equality, which quibbling film pundits are sure to nitpick on. Nonetheless dandy dialogues, packed to the hilt with dramatic content, makes it delightful watch. Ramu (Vishnuvardhan), a driven ‘n diligent student, albeit impoverished, cherishes dreams of becoming a collector. He is steadfast in his belief that one should be goal-oriented in life. His bosom friend, Lakshmana (Ram Gopal) is a privileged guy, given to a life of opulence and plenitude. Assertive Shanti (Manjula) and arrogant Geetha (Sri Lalitha) are respectively the daughters of a poor farmer...

  “ The greatest rules of dramatic writing…,” it has been said, “… are conflict, conflict, conflict.” Copy that! When the conflict is infused with the suspense and mystery of murder, the drama is high and intense. “ ಒಲವು ಗೆಲುವು ” (‘ Olavu Geluvu ’, which means: ‘ Fondness Victory ’) is a 1977 Kannada film which has conflict in romance wrapped in a murder mystery. Audiences gave the movie the seal of approval, in large measure due its mesmerizing music. The popular film was a money-spinner. Mohan (Dr. Rajkumar) is a strict English professor in a college. One of his students, Rohini (Lakshmi) develops a crush on him. Typical tomfoolery follows. Soon the attraction leads to seduction, which turns into mutual affection and courtship. Rohini’s father, Ramaswamy (Upasane Seetharam), an industrialist, gives his consent for the betrothal too. The romance though is short lived, for Mohan’s familial problems scuttle the relationship. The story of his tryst with love turns into an endea...

Many believe there is an afterlife….up in the heavens; or, in hell. Departed souls are supposed to rise up to their celestial abodes. But how cool would it be if heavenly beings showed up on earth instead! Well, that is exactly the basic plot of “ ನಾರದ ವಿಜಯ ” (‘ Narada Vijaya ’, which means ‘ Triumph of Narada ’), a 1980 Kannada film. The movie was a musical masterpiece― each track is a classic. The film yielded a whopper of a return to the producers. Sage Narada (Anant Nag) descends to earth and interacts with ordinary humans. But then, folks mistake him for his look-alike, Vijay (Anant Nag), a police officer. The ‘carbon copies’, that is, Vijay and Sage Narada befool the former’s romantic interest, Radha (Padmapriya). A wacky policeman in plainclothes, Gurupada (MP Shankar) is beguiled too. In the meantime, Lakshmipathi (KS Ashwath), a brilliant scientist gets kidnapped and his invention― an unreal camera that can instantly freeze people in front of it― is used for bank heists....

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...

As someone said, truths are best expressed in the form of myth. On the dot! Rectitude and righteousness too are best spread with mythology. “ ಮೂರೂವರೆ ವಜ್ರಗಳು ” (‘ Mooruvare Vajragalu ’, which translates to: ‘ Three & Half Diamonds ’) is a 1973 Kannada mythological film based on events narrated in the pur ā ṇa s and other ancient literary works. Woven around characters in the epic Mah ā bh ā rata , the B&W movie is a masterpiece. It was a super-duper hit and garnered critical acclaim too. The film unfolds with Sage Narada (Dr. Rajkumar) reassuring a poor, blind and orphaned Kritavarma (Srinath) about Sri Krishna’s (Dr. Rajkumar) benevolence towards those devoted to him. The noble sage narrates the exemplary story of Sudama (Gururajulu Naidu) to prove his point. Kritavarma marries Satyavati (Jayanthi), an ardent, devout worshipper of Sri Krishna, and regains his lost kingdom. Many sub-plots, entailing conspiracies of pompous Duryodhana (Vajramuni); negligence of Kritavarma;...

Airing his view on drama, Alfred Hitchcock, the great auteur equated it with ‘ life minus the dull bits ’. Pithy and prudent articulation indeed! “ ಬಯಲು ದಾರಿ ” (‘ Bayalu Daari ’, which translates loosely to: ‘ Path in the Plains ’) is a 1976  Kannada  film. Based on the work of reputed novelist, Bharathi Sutha, the drama was a musical blockbuster. It was declared a smash hit at the box-office too. Chandra (Kalpana) is the affluent heiress of a large estate. Gopu (Anant Nag), a certified Casanova with chocolate boy looks, seduces Chandra, who succumbs to his overtures. Soon the two consummate their relationship sexually; in the result, Chandra becomes pregnant To shed the bad rap from his womanizer image, Gopu enlists in the armed forces. As fate would have it though, he is involved in an air accident and is declared dead. Devastated and stigmatized over conceiving out of wedlock, Chandra goes into depression. She becomes reclusive and refuses a second marriage. So...

“Spying,” as the Russian President Vladimir Putin said somewhat stalely, “ has always gone on since ancient times .” There is something about ‘spying’ and its not-so-distant cousin, ‘voyeurism’ that gives an adrenalin rush to the common man. Perhaps the spooky secrecy that shrouds espionage― besides its association with death and danger― is irresistibly charming. The onscreen portrayal of suave, sophisticated spies too adds to the romanticism of intelligence work . “ ಕುಳ್ಳ ಏಜೆಂಟ್ ೦೦೦ ” (“ Kulla Agent 000”, which literally means, ‘Short Agent 000’ ) is a 1972 Kannada film, which is part spy parody and part spy thriller. The commercially successful movie― an escapade in the Austin Powers’ mold on comical content sans the innuendos― found favour in pop culture too. Kulla (Dwarakish), a puny, pocket-sized bloke aspires to be a secret service agent. He tries to make up for his lack of height by showing up for a recruitment interview wearing stilts under his long trousers. The comical ...

“ 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...

Sanatana Dharma is much more than plain vanilla faith; it is a belief system that gives one the liberty to connect with his Maker in his own personal way. It represents the diverse spiritual thought; rich cultural legacy; and, long civilizational history of India. Its sacred texts are a stockpile of ancient knowledge; a repository of timeless wisdom. The Bhakti Movement marks a phase during medieval times when many a saint adopted the path of devotion to the Supreme as a means for achieving moksha . Regimented ritualism was taboo for them. Sant Gora Kumbhar (also Goroba) was one such saint, who lived in Satyapuri village in Maharashtra State,  circa  1267 CE to 1317 CE. A contemporary of Namdev and a potter by profession, Goroba was ardently devoted to Lord Vithala.  “ ಭಕ್ತ ಕುಂಬಾರ ” (‘ Bhakta Kumbara’ ― it translates to: ‘(The) Devout Potter’) is a 1974 Kannada biographical film, which won awards by the dozen; the film which chronicles the life of the saint wa...

The American novelist, Ernest Hemingway wrote: “ All things truly wicked start with innocence. ” Perhaps; but, the truly wicked always ends with trauma…and, at times, stigma, which sacrifice saves. “ ಸುಪ್ರಭಾತ ” (‘ Suprabhāta ’, which means ‘ Auspicious Dawn ’) is a 1988 Kannada movie, which impressed critics and enamored audiences. The romantic drama was a musical extravaganza; a commercial megahit, it won awards by the dozen too. Vijay Kumar (Vishnuvardhan) is the owner of a petrol bunk on a hill station. He leads a lonely, reclusive life out of choice. The shyness and introversion stems from his past speech disorder. He does engage in long monologues though, perhaps to break out of his boredom.   Enter Hema (Suhasini), a very reticent, reserved lady…and Vijay’s attraction to her blossoms into love. But soon, Vijay tumbles upon Hema’s dark past. So how does the discovered secret impact the romance? That is the rest of the film. Penned and directed by Dinesh Baboo, the roman...

Someone once said: ‘Revenge is always sweet; it is the aftertaste that is bitter’ . Perhaps! But then, the bitterness too gratifies and satisfies, does it not? “ ಸೀತಾರಾಮು ” (‘Seetharamu’) is a 1979 Kannada film based on the twin themes of retribution and reincarnation. Based on a core plot of brain transplant, the romantic drama― a science fiction fantasy of sorts― was a megahit at the box-office; it proved to be a musical bonanza too. It was remade in Telugu ( Seethe Ramudaithe ) and Hindi ( Diya Aur Toofan ). The male protagonist Ramu (Shankar Nag) is an upright and diligent engineer. His friend, Dr. Dayal (Sundar Krishna Urs) is obsessed with his research on brain transplantation. Seetha (Manjula) is Ramu’s romantic pursuit; he gets betrothed to her. Unfortunately though, Ramu refuses to turn a blind eye to his employer’s corrupt and crooked ways. His exploits against the notorious gangsters gets him killed. Revenge no doubt is a powerful motivator. So Seetha then exacts reven...

The Roman philosopher  Seneca  observed profoundly: “ W ealth is the slave of a wise man ;  the master of a fool . ” “ ನಂದ ಗೋಕುಲ ” (“ Nanda Gokula ”, which is figuratively, “ (a) Joy-Filled House ”) is a 1972 Kannada film, which laced the poignant thought into its theme. The family drama won plaudits for the social values it espoused and presented on celluloid, albeit with the customary share of amped up theatrics and jazzed up dialogues. Sridhar (Ramesh) is a medical student hailing from a tight-knit family of limited means. In due course he becomes a doctor, thanks to the sacrifice of his younger brother, Anand (Dr. Rajkumar), who is in a relationship with Jaya (Jayanthi). Yet, Sridhar deserts his kith and kin to marry Mohini (BV Radha), the daughter of a rich business tycoon. Eventually, wiser counsel prevails on him and he reunites with his family. YR Swamy’s direction has in its  typical narrative  all the ingredients of a 1960s family flick― large servings...