Chitra Varga

Some say love is an “emotion experienced by many and enjoyed by a few” . However, that emotion of love is elusive for many, who don’t get to either enjoy or experience it. “ ಬೆಸುಗೆ ” (‘ Besuge ’, which means ‘ Solder ’) is a 1976 Kannada film. Based on the work of renowned novelist Ashwini, the romantic drama was a commercial hit― its original music, comprised of six tracks, was no doubt a bigger blockbuster. It won numerous awards too. Venu (Srinath) is a rich non-resident Indian. A family friend, Liz (Sathyapriya) becomes smitten by Venu, who spurns her overtures of love…for he is haunted by well-entrenched memories of an ugly and tragic past that reside in the innermost recesses of his mind and have messed up his mental well-being. So, Venu returns to India to exorcise the deep-rooted demons from his dark childhood. Back home after a long time, he is torn between a sweet, orphaned maid, Suma (Manjula) and a hot, loaded relative, Champa (Jayalakshmi). Does Venu fall for the a...

It is often said: ‘ What goes around comes around. ’ Indeed so! As someone said, karma is like a boomerang; and, on top it works in mysterious ways. “ ಋಣ ಮುಕ್ತಳು ” [‘ Ru ṇ amukta ḷ u’ , meaning: ‘(a lady who is) debt-free’ ], a 1984 Kannada film, is based on renowned writer, Anupama Niranjana’s novel ‘Runa’. Critics lauded the domestic drama, which has the karmic theme of ‘how you sow, so do you reap’.  Ramappa (Sundar Krishna Urs) is a corrupt, government engineer. Goda (Bharati), Ramappa’s beautiful wife, is against his nefarious and unscrupulous ways; but, she does not interfere. The couple has a son, Ranganatha (Ramakrishna), who grows to be a volatile, impulsive and rebellious man. The other son is obedient, studious and becomes a doctor. During a visit to his village, Ramappa has a fling with an innocent village belle, Malli (Padma Vasanthi), who begets a son from the illicit affair. Ramappa though keeps the birth of the illegitimate son a secret. Eventually, a conman, Adises...

“ 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...

“Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both” , wrote C. Wright Mills , a reputed American sociologist. “ ನಾಗರಹಾವು ”– ‘ Naagarahaavu ’ or, ‘ Cobra ’, in English– is a 1972 Kannada film, an evergreen classic that delves into the tangled world of relationships within the macrocosm of society. It explores how human relations shape lives, events and personalities. The movie melds together three stories– Sarpa Mathsara , Ondu Gandu Eradu Hennu and Nagarahavu– of novelist, TR Subba Rao, popularly known as TaRaSu . The social drama won a plethora of awards; it was profusely successful at the box-office and was critically acclaimed as well. This film was remade in Hindi ( Zehreela Insaan ) , Tamil ( Raja Nagam )  and Telugu ( Kode Nagu ). The film revolves around the relationship of the male protagonist, Ramachari (Vishnuvardhan) with his childless school-teacher, Chamayya Meshtru ( KS Ashwath ). Chamayya, and his wife...

“ A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together; it is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences,” the American author, Dave Meurer musingly wrote. So true that is. Of course, the question arises about whether marriage is more about ' loving the person one marries ' or ' marrying the person one loves '. Surely there are no readymade answers. " ಬಿಳಿ ಹೆಂಡ್ತಿ " (' Bili Hendthi ', which translates literally to: ' White Wife '), is a 1975 Kannada film about an inter-racial couple in an orthodox Indian family. The domestic drama met with success at the box-office; it was critically well-received too. Gopinath (Anil Kumar), who hails from an orthodox family, returns home after his studies abroad. Sharada (Aarathi), his fianc é e is excited about it. But, she soon finds out that her betrothal has fallen apart, since Gopinath has already wedded Elisa (Margaret Thomsen). Did someone not say: “ Hell...

“ At the gate where suspicion enters, love goes out ”, is a pithy saying. Trust surely is the foundation on which the superstructure of all relationships exist. “ ಅಮೃತ ಘಳಿಗೆ” (' Amrutha Ghalige ', which means: ' Ambrosial Moment' ) is a classic 1984 Kannada film, a romantic drama based on the novel Avadhana , by Dodderi Venkatagiri Rao. The critically-acclaimed movie won a plethora of awards; it pulled audiences to cinema theatres in droves too. This plot deals with the sensitive issues of of premarital sex and teenage pregnancy – both taboo in Indian society. It portrays the trauma of girls and the stigma associated with teen pregnancy, with dramatic content added in good measure. The female protagonist, Renu (Padma Vasanthi), a fresher in college, hails from a family of limited means. Manu (Ramakrishna), an affluent classmate, shows romantic interest in Renu. He courts her persistently and the two begin to love each other; they even consummate their relationship ...