Chitra Varga

Someone said: “ A strong woman stands up for herself; a stronger woman stands up for everybody else. ” True! Strong women stand up for gender equality and justice too.   “ ಕಾನೂರು ಹೆಗ್ಗಡತಿ ” (‘ Kanooru Heggadithi ’ , which translates to: ‘ Headwoman of Kanooru’ ) is a 1999 Kannada movie that narrates the story of women in a feudal family and patriarchal society during the pre-independence era. Based on a novel penned by renowned Jnanpith-awardee, Dr. Kuvempu, the flick recreates the customs, couture and culture of the period faithfully. A visual treat, the film found critical appeal and approval; it won a host of awards too. The movie takes you back to early 20 th Century when British imperialism was waning, even as patriotic and nationalistic fervor was waxing. Inspired by Indian leaders; influenced by the call to freedom; and, with idealism for impetus, the educated youth had begun to rise against feudalism and patriarchy in society. Hoovayya (Suchendra Prasad) is a libera...

“ The aim of education is the knowledge…, ” observed William Inge, the Pulitzer-Prize-winning, American novelist and playwright, “ …not of facts, but of values. ” Many more have extolled how vital it is to impart the right values and virtues in children at a young age. “ ಸ್ಕೂಲ್ ಮಾಸ್ಟರ್ ” (‘ School Master ’) is a 1958 Kannada film that is a landmark in the annals of movie-making in Karnataka…umm, India! Equipped with a plot based on the English film, ‘ Make Way for Tomorrow ’, the domestic drama blurred the line between the offbeat and the mainstream. The movie was remade in Hindi ( School Master ); Telugu ( Badi Panthulu ); Tamil ( Engal Kudumbam Perisu ); and, Malayalam ( School Master ). Interestingly, the virtuoso Puttanna Kanagal directed the Malayalam version. A musical blockbuster, the flick was a ‘ super-duper hit ’ in multiple languages. Ranganna (BR Panthulu), an honest, humble teacher, but a strict disciplinarian, takes over as head master of a school in a small town. The sch...

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...

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...

Someone said that “ revenge is the raging fire that consumes the arsonist .” Idealism is writ large on the face of that opinion. Many may argue that sweet revenge often douses raging fires; others too may claim that there is a certain joy and satisfaction in retribution. “ ಶಂಕರ್ ಗುರು ” ( ‘Shankar Guru’ ) is a 1978 Kannada film, which gained huge popularity with the audiences; it was declared an ‘ Industry Hit ’ at the box office. The domestic drama, a bonanza on the musical pop-charts too, was remade in Hindi ( Mahaan ), Tamil ( Thirisoolam ) and Telugu ( Kumara Raja ). Rajashekhar (Dr. Rajkumar) is a well-off businessman, who wants to create wealth ethically. His crooked partners intend to start an illegal idol smuggling racket, which creates a rift with Rajashekhar. But, in a quirky twist of fate, Rajashekhar murders one of the partners. So, he is forced to flee from the law enforcement authorities along with his pregnant wife, Sumathi (Kanchana). With the pol...

Some say that we are born not to change destiny, but to fulfill it . Fatalistic opinion, for sure! On the flip side, man often builds grand castles in the air about the future. But, destiny invariably disrupts the plans; blindsides bizarrely and has the last laugh. “ ಗಾಳಿ ಗೋಪುರ ” (‘ Gaali Gopura ’― it translates literally to ‘ Wind Tower ’, but means ‘ Castle in Air ’) is a 1962 Kannada film, based on a story penned by the well-known Tamil writer, MS Solamalai. The bilingual drama, a blockbuster, was later released in Telugu ( Gaali Medalu ). The movie was remade in Hindi ( Bharosa ) and Malayalam ( Kalanjukittiya Thankam ). Ranganna (KS Ashwath) is a rich man who suffers from tuberculosis. Believing to be on his death bed, Ranganna hands over a large sum on money and entrusts his young son, Krishna (Rajkumar) to Govindaiah (R Nagendra Rao). Avaricious Govindaiah pounces on the opportunity to make a quick buck though; he packs up discreetly and relocates to a new town. His wife Sha...

Celia Fremlin, the mystery fiction writer, equated infatuation with a ‘ love that is inconvenient to go on with ’. But, sometimes, inconvenient love refuses to go away. “ ವಿಮುಕ್ತಿ ” (‘ Vimukthi ’, which means: ‘ Redemption ’) is a 2010 Kannada flick that delves on that theme of incestuous infatuation; it received a battery of awards, including the prestigious National Award. The movie was appreciated by critics and has the Neo-Freudian psycho-sexual theory of ‘Electra complex’ for its plot. Madhavi (Bhavana) is the only daughter of Keshava Rao (Ramakrishna), an artist proficient in the traditional art of Mysore paintings. Deprived of motherly love early in her life, Madhavi develops a strange, unresolved attraction for her father and yearns sub-consciously for his unconditional love. Madhavi’s relationship with her husband, Vibhin (Aravind G), is strained― courtesy: her clouded and cluttered psychological frame of mind. She becomes obsessively possessive and regressively jealous,...

The great theoretical physicist, Albert Einstein observed insightfully, ‘ only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. ’ Indeed when the ego comes into play, human associations begin to strain; more so in marital relationships. “ ನಾ ಮೆಚ್ಚಿದ ಹುಡುಗ ” (“ Naa Mecchida Huduga” , which translates loosely to “(The) Boy  I Adored” ) is a 1972  Kannada film that was a great commercial success. Based on PS Vaidyanathan’s story titled “ Divorce in Indian Style ”, the romantic drama was remade in Tamil as “ Kattila Thottila ”. Bhaskar Rao (Ashwath) is an advocate married happily to Dr. Leelavathi (Leelavathi). The duo has a daughter, Pramila a.k.a. Pammi (Kalpana), who is in a romantic relationship with Gopinath (Srinath). Unaware of their daughter’s love, the two parents agitate over the choice of a suitable bridegroom for Pramila. Unable to settle their dispute amicably, they even reach the brink of divorce. That is when a clo...

It is often said that hard things are put in our way, not to stop us, but to call out our courage and strength. The inspirational saying is perhaps most appropriate for people with disabilities. “ ನಾಂದಿ ” (‘ Nāndi’ , which means ‘ Prologue ’) is a 1964  Kannada film. The romantic drama, a cult classic, revolved around the plight of people with speech and hearing disabilities. The landmark movie received widespread critical appreciation for its sensitive handling of a heart-wrenching topic. The male protagonist, Murthy (Dr. Rajkumar) is a school teacher, who is blissfully wedded to Nirmala (Kalpana). Misfortune strikes the couple when Nirmala dies while giving birth to a child. Widowed Murthy decides to marry Ganga (Harini), who suffers from speech impairment. The rest of the story is about the trials and times; the travails and triumphs of the two. N. Lakshminarayan has written and directed this drama, one that most certainly will touch a chord with you. The simple, single-t...

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...

It has been arguably said that you can only cheat a greedy man , not an honest one. True at times; not always. Often the naive too fall prey to the devilry of the consummate con artist. " ಸುಬ್ಬ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಿ " (' Subba Shastri ') is a 1966 Kannada film based on the novel Aashada Bhoothi  by  AN Murthy Rao. The crime drama, with the trappings of a family drama, was well appreciated by audiences and critics alike. The flick portrays, charmingly too, the pitfalls of harbouring excessively strong fraternal feelings; and, how fissures can develop easily within a family when outsiders with dubious antecedence rule the roost. The male protagonist, Subba Shastry (Kalyan Kumar) is a cheat, who sweet-talks his way quoting the scriptures and uttering pearls of wisdom. Blessed with a baritone voice, the wily, glib fellow can melt hearts with his euphonic, captivating renditions of devotional songs. With the police hot on his heels, Subba reaches the temple town of Melkote, ...