Kannada film KANASEMBO KUDUREYANNERI review

• DIRECTOR Girish Kasaravalli
• ACTORS Biradara, Umashree, Sadashiv Brahamavar, Pavithra Lokesh, Shivaranjan
• RUN TIME 90 mins
• CERTIFICATION U

At a time when fake Kasaravallis flood Kannada’s parallel cinema, the master returns to the arena, re-affirming our faith in art films. Having said that, Kanasembo Kudureyanneri is not the best of Kasaravalli’s works. As always, the film is simple in its content, but does not necessarily ignite you. (Like most of his works did).

Irya is a gravedigger and lives in pitiable condition with his wife Rudri. His belief in his profession prevents him from taking any other labour. But it is not every day that someone dies in the village. His wife takes up the responsibility of earning the daily morsel. Irya dreams of Siddha, his community God, promising him ‘work’ the following day. He believes the village landlord has passed away. But his belief is shattered when he is told there has been no death. His wife’s dream of Siddha's arrival also proves to be false. But the reality turns out to be something different. Irya's dreams are crushed from becoming realities by the manner in which the well-off people in the village use it to re-establish and save their own belief systems.

The non-linear narrative, a first in Kasaravalli films, was not completely essential. Only in two scenes does it have some impact. The technique is not used to reveal different perspectives of the same situation by different people, but only to show some additional information, not visible to the other. The climax seems like an afterthought that does not exactly connect with the original storyline.

Brilliant in Irya’s role, kannada acotr Biradara proves his talent after being marginalised in commercial cinema as a comedian. As convincing is Umashree as Rudri. Veteran actor Sadashiv Brahamavar should pick up an award or two for his role in the film.

Kasaravalli's attention to detail, in all departments, is the reason for the good show by every actor and technician in the film. V Manohar's music is rustic and charming and ‘more’ than what you find in regular art films. HM Ramachandra's cinematography is another major highlight. Kanasembo Kudureyanneri is a good film for serious film aficionados; but it does not ignite you. Not quite a master’s work, shall we add. Yet, it has glimpses of his brilliance.

Kannada actress Vaishali Kasaravalli: A multifaceted personality

The 58 year old multifaceted personality Vaishali Kasaravalli's death has left a large number of her

friends and kannada fans from theatre, television and kannada film industry devastated. This hugely talented kannada artist, costume designer and director who was known for her amicable behaviour has left behind a huge body of work in all segments of performing arts which stands for
perfection, quality and extraordinary merit.

Vaishali has left behind a much acclaimed National award winning husband, kannada movie director Girish Kasaravalli, daughter and kannda actress Ananya Kasaravalli and son Apoorva Kasaravalli.

Vaishali Kasaravalli was born to theatre enthusiast parents Dr. Chitagopi and Nirmala. She was initiated to theatre by none other than the theatre giant late Dr. B.V.Karanth. After her family migrated to Bengaluru, Vaishali acted in many plays including Hayavadana, Jokumaraswamy, Midsummer Nights Dream, Natakakaarana Shdhaneyalli Aaru Paathragalu and many others. She also directed Sevanthi Prasanga and translated many classic works from Marathi and Hindi.

The transition to kannada films was natural for Vaishali. She was paired with Dr. Vishnuvardhan in Professor Huchchuraya, Hombisilu and many other films. Puttanna Kanagal, Bhotayyana Maga Ayyu, Shankar Guru, Bangarada Panjara and Kittu Puttu are some of her successful kannada films. But it was her performance as the leading lady in Aakramana directed by Girish Kasaravalli which won her laurels and also a state government award for the Best actress.

Later she married Girish Kasaravalli. In kannada films like Ganeshana Maduve, Vaishali outclassed even the leading artists by her comical performance as a cricket enthusiast who is extremely fond of Sachin Tendulkar.

Vaishali was a natural choice for many serials including Maya Mruga and Manvanthara. Namma Nammalli directed by T.S.Nagabharana was the first of the kannada serials she was featured in. Later she worked in Sadhane and the Hindi serial Malgudi Days.

Vaishali took a lot of interest in directing plays and teleserials. She assisted Girish Kasaravalli as a costume designer and even got a National award for her work in Thaayi Sahebha. Then she worked on Moodala Mane which became a popular television serial.

After a long hibernation, actress-director Vaishali Kasaravalli returned to work as a director of a tele serial. The intervening period saw her come out from a near fatal sickness. She continued her winning streak with the tele serial Muththina Thorana.

She won the Nataka Academy award for her contribution to the theatre. Earlier she had won the Karnataka Rajyothsava award and many awards for her performance as an actress and a director of theatre and teleserials.

Vaishali Kasaravalli is one of the most talented creative personalities who has done some extra ordinary work in many segments of performing arts like theatre, films and television. Her death is a big loss to the Kannada film and television industry.

Girish Kasaravalli' new film Kanasemba Kudureyanneri

Actors consider it a boon to get a call from director Girish Kasaravalli to act in his film. And it is not without reason. The winner of four National Awards for best film, he is considered lucky for actors too, many of whom have bagged awards in his films.

Girish is also known not to repeat his actors. Only Harish Raj and Umashree have two films with Girish. But who would have imagined Biradar to play the main lead in a Girish film. No doubt Biradar is considered a talented actor. But in mainstream films he has been delegated to play cheap comic characters and the first choice for a beggar’s role.

It was very rare for him to get meaningful roles. The roles he played in films like Akka Tangi were very few. But playing the lead role in Girish’s 12th feature film Kanasemba Kudureyaneri is a different matter altogether.

Kannada film Ghatashraddha in top 20 best films made in India

If you are getting bored of reading posts like why Ramya said no to Prakash Rai's film at the last moment or Radhika gave birth to baby girl, then here is some quality news.

Ghatashraddha (death rites), the Kannada movie based on U R Ananthamurthy’s short story and directed by Girish Kasaravalli, has been voted as one of the 20 best films made in 100 years of Indian film history.

According to sources, 1.6 million people have voted for this movie. It was announced at the International Film Festival being held in Goa.

This was Kasaravalli’s first movie, done in black and white in 1977. “I had Meena, Ajit, Narayana Bhat, Ramakrishna, B Suresha and Shantha in the movie which had music directed by B V Karanth and camerawork by S Ramachandra.’’

The story is about a cruel way of excommunication. The death rites are performed for a living person to mark excommunication from Brahmin society.

Kasaravalli said: “It was a powerful and extraordinary story. It spoke of rituals and traditions in Brahmin families. It was my first movie after I graduated from the Pune film institute. I had selected Meena Kuttappa, who was a student at that time, for the role of Yamunakka. It won national (Golden Lotus) and state awards.’’

The story goes like this: Yamunakka, a child widow, has an affair with a village schoolteacher and gets pregnant. Her lover arranges for abortion and disappears from the village. The elders discover Yamunakka’s secret and her father performs ghatashraddha.