Raj B Shetty in ‘Roopanathara’. | Photo Credit: Lighter Buddha Films/YouTube
Mithilesh Edavath Rupnathara (Transformation) is a great example of how an idea is only as good as its presentation. An anthology of four stories, starring and co-written (dialogues and additional screenplay) by Raj B Shetty, is an interesting film on the importance of self-transformation.
There is nothing in this Rupnathara This is a revelation, but Mithilesh presents each of his stories like mini-epics and makes them interesting, even if you are constantly reminded of the elemental nature of his writing. Take, for instance, the episode involving the arrest of a beggar (Lekha Naidu) for the alleged crime of kidnapping a child.
An influential retired military man calls these Dalits “elements” who are out to destroy the world. He wants to put her in jail because his privilege makes him see her as a confirmed criminal.
Rupanthara (Kannada)
Director: Mithilesh Edavath
Mould: Raj B Shetty, Lekha Naidu, Hanumakka, Jaishankar Aryar, Somshekhar Bolegaon, Bharat GB, Anjan
Runtime: 152 minutes
Plot: Anthology of four stories that focus on the self-transformation of the central characters
It is an open secret that police stations are run by the wealthy. So, the core of the story is basic, yet the proceedings inside the police station are extremely watchable due to the director’s execution. The dialogues are sharp and witty, showing the frustrated state of the police. The casting is brilliant, as the actor playing the influential man is perfectly suited to portray an annoying character; you feel like punching him for insensitively flaunting his privilege.
Mithilesh has treated the episode like a thriller, with Praveen Sriyan’s deliberately shaky camerawork adding the much-needed intensity to the scenes. The director has used a constable (Bharath G.B.) as the narrator of the story, and the innocent new joiner keeps asking his senior how the case will proceed.
In the story of a boy whose childhood is full of troubles, Mithilesh has unleashed the episode like a ticking time bomb, helped by Midhun Mukundan’s dramatic background score. The boy, who is addicted to drugs, gets involved in anti-social activities, and becomes a threat to society. The character, portrayed in a dark tone, looks believable considering the circumstances he faced as a child.
A scene from ‘Roopanathara’ | Photo Credit: Lighter Buddha Films/YouTube
The best episode involves an old village couple. The banter between them is excellent as the impossible dreams of both of them outshine their poverty-stricken lives. The director has beautifully avoided melodrama until we learn that the wife is suffering from an incurable disease. Her greatest wish to enjoy a day in Bengaluru is shattered. But this idea too seems a lost opportunity as the director fails to create empathy for the characters.
In the fourth story, Raj plays a goon who gets into a fight with an IT employee (played by Jaishankar Aryar, the director) for no reason. Shivamma) Once again, a seemingly simple idea is made interesting through a realistic scuffle between the two, and the result is something you would never have imagined.
Like most anthologies, the conclusion of the stories is not as impressive as it should be. Another complaint, especially against new-age Kannada filmmakers, is their overemphasis on philosophy. In the futuristic portion, the director repeatedly expresses his disappointment that the world has become an ugly mess. He uses the idea of ​​an ordinary insect turning into a butterfly as a metaphor for the need for people to change so that the world can be a better place. Somehow, you feel that he is making a conscious effort to spoon-feed the idea and drive home his philosophy about prudence. Why not just tell a story and leave people to ponder over it?
Nevertheless, Mithilesh has made a confident debut. He is able to carry out his ideas as a director with conviction; his ideas need to be sharper and bolder.
Rupanthaara will hit the theatres on July 26
