Karnataka   

Lacking in insight

Thaayi (Kannada)

Director: Baragur Ramachandrappa Music: Hamsalekha

Cast: Pramila Joshai, Chandini, Abhinaya, Kumar Govind, Sundar Raj, Krishne Gowda

Based on the Russian writer Maxim Gorky’s immortal novel, “Mother”, writer- director Baragur Ramachandrappa presents the theme on “equality” in a theatrical style and works through suggestion, which demands the audience to work out emotional details and visual ambience in their mind screen.

The original text is about the social ferment in the late 19th century Russia which led to the 1917 Russian Revolution.

On the contrary, Thaayi, though faithful to the arrangement of incidents that can be traced to Gorky’s novel, is an internecine social drama where marked ideologies, human sentiment and religious philosophies, pompous speeches on the rights and responsibilities deprive the presence of essential human drama.

Interestingly, the script writer (Prof. Baragur Ramachandrappa) is also an acclaimed writer in Kannada and champion of Bandaya literature.

The novel deals with the Russian socio-political situation and human tragedies having Inna Tchourikova as its central character.

Moral decadence of her decent and kindly husband, owing to inhuman working conditions of the steel factory where he is employed; revolt of her son Pavel and his friends against the factory management; influence of socialism and Marxist thoughts on the working class people; among other things make the plot.

In contrast, the director of Thaayi simply narrates events that take place after the government enforces an anti-protest law.Events such as Thyavva’s suffering, her son Raju’s revolt against an MNC, trade unionism, protest that culminates on May Day, police atrocity and judicial intervention just pass off without any impact on the audience as they lack momentum and insight.

Although the mindset to adopt Mother to the Kannada screen is to be appreciated, the method of film making betrays the purpose. Incidentally, the film bagged national and State honours.

K.N. Venkatasubbarao

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

Stories in this Section

Karnataka Assembly polls have national significance, says Advani
Jalappa’s resignation sought
Awaiting a link to the world
Cast-iron entertainment
Lacking in insight
Many tribal groups clueless about elections, quota
Manjunath quits
Davangere: 23 withdraw papers
A mad scramble
The process begins
Journalists arrested for staging demonstration
Revived 15 years ago, this tank does not dry up during summer
‘I did meet Deve Gowda after 2004 election results’

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu