Kannada Film Review

MALE BARALI, MANJU IRALI
DIRECTOR: Vijayalakshmi Singh
ACTORS: Parvathy, Srinagara Kitty, Naga Kiran, Jai Jagadish, Mukhyamantri Chandru

Rating: **

There is a long tradition of love triangles in Indian films. An addition to this list is Vijayalakshmi Singh’s new kannada film Male Barali, Manju Irali. Most of the film is a rip-off of the decade-and a-half-old Hindi film Yeh Dillagi. It doesn’t help that the Hindi film was also a copy of an old English movie. What is new is the story told from the perspective of the leading lady, Parvathy, who does a wonderful job.

Sneha (Parvathy) is a no-nonsense girl who has her goals firmly in sight; a career that will take care of her and her father. Her father (Jai Jagadish) works on a feudal estate and has kept his daughter away in Bangalore on the orders of the owners, who do not want her influence on the estate’s heirs. Vishwas (Srinagara Kitty) and Prem (Naga Kiran) are the rich heirs who are poles apart in character. Vishwas is an introvert trying to get over his failed affair. Unfortunately, Prem’s character is not suitably developed to be understood. Sneha falls in love with Vishwas without realising that Prem loves her.

Despite opposition from the boy’s mother and the introduction of a forgotten lover, there is no doubt throughout that Sneha will eventually end up in the arms of Vishwas. The brilliant performance of Parvathy is sometimes marred by her Suhasini-like accent. Considerable care has been taken by the director to present an authentic setting for the emotional scenes which is ably aided by good camerawork. But unnecessary songs and some boring scenes slow down the pace. Only Parvathy’s performance can bring in the crowds for this film.

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