Karnataka - Bangalore   

Tracing the nexus between police and underworld

VIOLENT NARRATIVE: Shivrajkumar in Ashoka

Ashoka (Kannada)

Director: Shivamani

Cast: Shivrajkumar, Srinivasamurthy, G.K. Govinda Rao, Shivamani, Satyajit, Satya Prakash, Sunita Varma and Tejaswi

Borrowing its plot straight from published sensational news stories, in a cut and paste format, Ashoka attempts to trace the nexus between the police and underworld in a despicable but undeniable fashion.

It struggles to establish that humanity and law and order are safe in the hands of a sane, hardened and humane outlaw than with the corrupt individuals in the political and police mechanism. Ironically, the film advocates its intended thematic values such as justice, honesty, loyalty and peace by glorifying the contrary. Director Shivamani, who plays an undercover police investigator, believes that passing dry comments on the inter-related state of affairs in the real estate business, educational institutions, criminal justice system and individual responsibilities, would elevate the thematic value of the film.

The film is about a young man Ashok (Shivrajkumar) who struggles to fulfil his father's dream by becoming an IPS officer, but ends up as an underworld element. His failure, sufferings, love for people and society, and how and why he plays an instrumental role in helping the police to restore law and order form the rest of the violent narrative.

K.N. Venkatasubba Rao

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Raju Kshatriyas demand 5 per cent reservation
Land grabbers will face criminal action, says Chief Minister
`Ensure all projects are eco-friendly'
Help of software companies sought to protect trees in Kodagu district
Life Patrols soon to tackle emergencies
Exploring the meaning of relationships
Schoolgirl ends life following `harassment' by teacher
Metro project will not be delayed, says Jaipal Reddy
E-waste posing health hazard
Not big on laughs
Tracing the nexus between police and underworld
Policeman run over, dies in hospital
Girl found within hours of kidnap
Auto drivers told not to pay more than Rs. 125 for meter recalibration
Rape accused undergoes polygraph test
Man sentenced to five years RI
Ban order around the Vidhana Soudha
Around the City
In Bangalore Today
Reader's Mail

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu