Chitra Varga

Adam Smith, the Scottish pioneer of Political Economics, observed: “The real tragedy of the poor is the poverty of their aspirations.” But, he perhaps forgot that often aspirational poverty is itself a product of personal finances, familial compulsions and societal structure. “ ಪ್ರವಾಹ ” (‘ Pravāha ’, which means ‘ Flood ’) is a 2004 Kannada film, which explores the link between rural poverty and urban influx. It also delves into the exploitation of the under-privileged and the reasons for rapid urbanization. The social drama found favour with critics; it won awards and garnered accolades too. Marappa (Achyuth Kumar), a village potter, is in the clutches of local loan-sharks and landlords. He struggles to eke out a living with his hereditary profession, because the demand for his clayware is on the wane. In the ebb and flow of life, Marappa’s wife, Ramakka (Mangala) and son, Siddarama (Rohith Bhat) also bear the brunt of penury. Marappa’s traditional craft of pottery too is on th...