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 American novelist and Nobel laureate, Ernest Hemingway wrote that ‘(it’s) better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.’   Needless to say, it is implied in the quote that it is ‘ best to have loved and won ’! “ ಅರಸು ” (‘ Arasu ’ or ‘ King ’ in Kannada) is a 2007 regional movie that has the ‘ loss and gain of love’s labour ’ for a theme. The romantic drama had the all-too-familiar trope of ‘cementing the rich-poor class divide’; the narration used that theme with novelty though― so, the film came as a whiff of fresh air. It was a commercial success and won some awards for its cast and crew too. Shivaraj Aras (Puneet Raj Kumar) is a daring, dashing and dapper NRI. The son of a business magnate, he is content living off the inherited wealth that his father had diligently amassed. Thus, born with a silver spoon, Shivaraj leads a life of comfort and luxury…the odd barroom brawl excepted. Circumstances though force Aras to head back to India. Upon return, the...

It has been said that history and folklore link the people of any land. Sure enough! However, while history is mostly fact, folklore is all fun and fiction, some of which is perhaps rooted in fact. “ ನಾಗಮಂಡಲ ” (‘ Nagamandala ’, which is the name of a ‘ ritualistic festival for propitiating the Snake God ’ celebrated in the coastal regions of Karnataka) is a 1997 Kannada film that captivated critics; it won numerous awards too. The drama is an adaptation of a Girish Karnad play based on a popular folktale of North Karnataka― its plotline though is similar to that of Rajasthani writer, Vijaydan Detha’s short story, Duvidha . Appanna (Prakash Raj; credited as Prakash Rai) is a grumpy, callous and insensitive newly-wed. Filled to the brim with toxic, suffocative masculinity, he routinely neglects his demure, bashful young bride, Rani (Vijayalakshmi). Yet, the obdurate fellow unfaithfully continues an illicit, extra-marital relationship with Cheluvi (Vanita Vasu), his concubine. Depri...

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....

“ 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...

‘ Money cannot buy love, ’ many say! But, it can surely usher cheer, cordiality and camaraderie in the lives of people. After all, folks swarm around the moneyed like bees to a honeypot! “ ಕಾಸಿದ್ರೆ ಕೈಲಾಸ ” (‘ Kasidre Kailasa ’, which equates to: ‘ Affluence is Heaven ’) is a 1971 Kannada film, which stresses the need for due care while managing money matters. The core plot of the film was used in a Hindi film ( Sabse Bada Rupaiya ). It fared well in its ticket-booth collections. A stinking-rich, but compassionate man, Gopi (Dr. Rajkumar) is a spendthrift. Naïve, trusting to a fault, Gopi is surrounded by a bunch of flunkies, who live off him. While Gopi harbors affection for the sidekicks, they see the former only as a golden goose. Shakuntala (Vanisri) is his romantic interest. One day Gopi sees Ramu (Udaykumar), a well-educated, unemployed graduate reeling under the pangs of hunger and reaching out for a few morsels of leftovers on the street. He feeds Ramu and takes him as a b...

Many say that a bad system will foil a good person’s plans every time . So too, a crooked politician in power will spoil a good system every time. That is telling like it is…without mincing words! “ ಕಳ್ಳರ ಸಂತೆ ” (‘ Kallara Santhe ’, which means: ‘ Thieves’ Fair ’) is a 2009 Kannada film, which revolves around systemic degeneracy. Based on a story that Agni Sridhar has penned, the drama has for its theme the disenchantment of citizenry with corruption and the political class. It found favour with movie buffs, who poured piles of positive reviews on it…so too, its appreciative audiences. Somu (Yash) is a young unemployed man, who holds a MA degree in Kannada literature having passed with flying colours. He has difficulty landing attractive job offers because of his average abilities with English and inability to give bribes. So he tries his hand at several odd jobs, before finally ending up as a burglar. Somu saves Roopa (Haripriya), a lady who’s rejected numerous matrimonial pr...

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...

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...