GAANA BAJANA - New Kannada film review

• DIRECTOR: Prashanth Raj
• ACTORS : Tharun Chandra, Radhika Pandit, Dilip Raj, Sharan, CR Simha, Yeshwanth Sirdeshpande


There is a superstition in the kannada film industry -if someone’s lucky for you, use them till they turn unlukcy! Looks like Prashanth, director of kannada film Gaana Bajana (Free download Gana bajana songs here), is following that dictum. He’s repeated the three main actors from his debut kannada film Love Guru. Not only that, even the characters in Gaana Bajana seems similar to Love Guru. Deja vu! However, the film scores in style. With youngsters as his target audience, Prashanth keeps the film fast-paced enough to keep them glued.

It's a simple love story. Two youngsters, Krish (Tharun) and Radhe (Radhika Pandit) fall in love and the relationship develops at the usual city hangouts. There is Dilip Raj playing a dandy who gives the film a fillip every time he is on screen. Radhe initially rejects Krish because she loves the other guy. The premise is mundane. But the stylish presentation somehow makes you want to tolerate the film, which lacks in substance. Gaana Bajana is entertaining for the sake of being entertaining.

Joshua Sridhar's music, which remains 'inspired', is the highlight of the film. Shekar's camerawork allows Prashanth what he wanted, an avant-garde Kannada production. Take a break from the serious stuff and enjoy this kannada film.

New kannada film Dil Khush

Kannada movie Love Guru director Prashanth Raj is desperately seeking a new face for his next kannada film Dil Khush

It’s a dream opportunity for any aspiring actress. For here is Prashanth Raj, scouring the city for new talent. The young filmmaker, who has to his credit the critically acclaimed Love Guru and now Gaana Bajaana ready for release, is on a hunt for a new face to play the female lead in his next, Dil Khush.

Prashanth tells us he knows she’s somewhere out there and he’s been looking everywhere. “The other day at a mall I was trailing this girl, but she wouldn’t get off her phone for hours, so I didn’t get the opportunity to approach her,” he says. Clearly, finding his next heroine takes up all his energies right now.

The chosen actress, Prashanth says, will be no mere hunk accessory. “Even in Love Guru, Radhika Pandit had a significant role and she went on to win a Filmfare award for it. The female lead in Dil Khush is also central to the storyline,” he adds.

“She should be in her early 20s; beyond that I have no other criteria,” he says, adding, “anyone with a burning desire to act can learn the art.” The director, a student of Subhash Ghai’s film school who went on to work with the Bhatt banner, himself considers a good story told by a passionate team the essence of his film-making, rather than big budgets and hype. “We seem to have confused commerce and art, and that doesn’t bode well for our cinema,” he rues.

Dil Khush will, like his two films until now, be a love story. What’s more, Prashanth will again cast Tharun Chandra in the lead. “Yes, I do tend to work with the same team,” the director says, “but I’m always on the lookout for fresh talent. Alongside my heroine hunt, I’m also inviting anyone with cinematic talent — whether it’s scripting, writing lyrics or choreography — to come up and impress me.”

But top priority is his heroine. “I hope the film will be the perfect launch vehicle for a great new talent. She should always be remembered for having wowed in her first movie,” says the film-maker, who is determined to bring a surge of freshness into Kannada cinema.