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Film Review
Well-made
Film: Kaurava (Kannada)
Director: S Mahendar
Cast: B C Patil, Prema, Jayasree, Sivaram, Girish Shetty, Tennis Krishna, Bank Janardhan
THIS is a remake of a Tamil film ‘Kadalora Kavithaigal’ but it’s a fine example of how a good film can be made when the director handles the story simply. BC Patil, who is also producer of the film, steals the show with his performance in the lead role. He seems to be improving his acting skill from film to film. He, who is a circle inspector of police in real life, makes you pick up your hanky and wipe the tears from your eyes in the scene where he accepts getting his head tonsured as punishment in a false complaint against him. Surya (B C Patil) becomes a misogynist when he sees his first wife with her lover (she later commits suicide), and his second wife fails to be either a wife or a mother to his son. He rules the village like Dhuryodana in Mahabbaratha and punishes villagers who indulge in infidelity by tonsuring their heads. Shashi (Prema), a school teacher, comes to his village on transfer and tries to change his attitude. Prema has acted well and veteran actress Jayasri provides good support. Bank Janardhan and Tennis Krishna provide the comedy. Good music also helps make this a fun, family entertainer.
Y MAHESHWARA REDDY
Movie of extremes
Film: Doli Sajake Rakhna (Hindi)
Director: Priyadarshan
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Jyotika Sadhana, Anupam Kher, Maushumi Chatterjee and Aruna Irani
PRIYADARSHAN comes riding high on the crest of ‘Virasat’, his last box office hit, but his latest venture ‘Doli...’ doesn’t have quite the same magic. Things happen too fast in the first half, too slow in the second and it’s almost time to bring down the curtain when the movie finally becomes gripping. However, the movie ends well and that’s its USP. Inder (Akshaye) gets besotted with Palo (Jyotika) at first sight. But he hasn’t bargained for her three over-protective brothers. Brave Inder takes all the bashes in his stride, but won’t give up his bashful lady love. He elopes with her and with his cronies’ help, lands up in a fishermen’s cove, whose chieftain is Amrish Puri. Puri is all set to tie the two in wedlock, when the duo puts a brake. No, the goodie-goodie pair won’t tie the knot without sanction from the 'elders’. They return to their respective homes but life isn’t the same again. It is left to the warring bigwigs of the two sides to make peace and pose for the Great Indian Family photo in the last scene.
The movie has too many exaggerations, love and hatred carried to the extremes. Newcomer Jyotika is endearing, though she is no stunner. She plays the oh-so-delicate Goldiocks to the hilt. Akshaye Khanna is raw. Rahman comes up with two good numbers.
VASANTHI HARIPRAKASH
Artistic failure
Film: Harikrishnans (Malayalam)
Cast: Mammootty, Mohanlal, Juhi Chawla
Director: Fazil
MALAYALEES are a lucky lot. In some theatres in Trivandrum, they can watch Mohanlal getting betrothed to Juhi Chawla. In Cochin, it is Mammootty’s. Those who dislike both endings (rare) don’t have to worry. In some theatres, Juhi plumps for Shah Rukh Khan, who appears in a guest role. In Bangalore, it is Mohnalal’s turn. Fazil’s Harikrishnans, the blockbuster movie which saw Mammootty and Mohanlal acting together after a gap of nine years, created history by introducing three endings..
This controversy over the ending has not yet blown over with film personalities, intellectuals and even politicians taking sides.
Some say it is a shameful exercise unheard of in film history. Some others come to Fazils rescue by saying that it is the director’s freedom to introduce different endings. But going by the movie, the audience is the biggest casualty. It is an out-and-out gimmick cleverly conceived and crafted by Fazil to keep both the superstars in good humour. Advocates Harm (Mammootty) and Krishnan (Mohanlal) from the famed Harikrishnan Associates bring a lot of fun into the first half with both vying for Meera (Juhi Chawla). Soon, they take up a murder case to save Ammalu Kutty (Baby Shyamii), whom both of them consider as their sister. Though it is entertaining, the movie doesn't have the support of a good script. Though the presence of two big-wigs and the controversy over the ending all made it spin money, artistically the movie suffered.
PADMANABHA VENUGOPAL
Breathtaking shots
Film: Premante Idera
Cast: Venkatesh, Preity Zinta, Ali, Chandramohan, Ramaprabha, Shivaji Rao.
Director: Jayanth
A family entertainer with love as the theme, Premante Idera draws its inspiration from the Hindi movie Dilwale Dulhaniya le jayenge.
Murali (Venkatesh) and his friends, all doctors, go to a village to attend the marriage of their friend. There he meets the heroine Sailaja (Preity Zinta) who incidentally happens to be the friend of the bride. And then begins a series of pranks played on one another which is the done thing during marriages, and even before the pair realises it, love blossoms.
However, Sailaja is engaged to another person. But Murali assures her that they will get married and arrives at her house as a doctor in attendance to Sailaja’s grandfather. And then begins the maneouvres of the hero to win the hearts of Sailaja’s family.
Good performances, breathtaking shots of New Zealand and scintillating music by Ramana Gogula are plus points.
G MANJULA KUMAR
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