AITHALAKADI - Kannada movie review

DIRECTOR: JG Krishna

ACTORS: Rangayana Raghu, Bullet Prakash, Neetu, Srinivas Murthy

The attempt at assembling kannada stars and actors here is considerably more than that of devising a taut screenplay. Maybe the scenes and dialogues were written after confirming the participation of the enviable ‘guest role’ list. Aithalakadi comes across as a challenging attempt let down by the director’s inability at the sheer magnitude of the task.

Kannada comedian Rangayana Raghu is an aspiring director who has spent years in the kannada film industry doing every other task. He is joined by Bullet Prakash and then there is the flower seller, Neetu, whose only ambition is to meet film star Ravichandran. Their struggles are portrayed in a superficial manner. A personal tragedy makes Raghu give up the film he is directing. Confidence is restored when the film becomes a big hit. Meanwhile, numerous stars like Sudeep, Jaggesh, Vijay, Ravichandran and many others appear and disappear from the screen. There is also Prakash’s background, which is revealed in a flashback.

The film is fast-paced and there is an attempt to make every scene light and humorous. Some work while some do not. But the real problem of the film is its narrative. It is a huge jigsaw puzzle which does not fall in place. Songs are the highlight of Aithalakadi. Each is a peppy number that makes the hummable list instantly. Hope this kannada film do a good business.

Kannada film Aithalakadi will be a hit?

Kannada trade pundits are predicting that Aithalakadi, with 108 Sandalwood stars in guest roles, will be a box-office hit.

When kannada comedy actor ‘Bullet’ Prakash announced last year that he would make a movie with himself in the lead, there was more than a smirk on the faces of most film folks. But from the very first day, Aithalakadi has been generating a lot of buzz.

Though kanada comedians Rangayana Raghu and ‘Bullet’ Prakash play the lead roles in the film, there are 108 senior actors in guest roles. Some of the top stars like Ravichandran, Sudeep, Jaggesh, Vijay and Vijaya Raghavendra will be seen in important scenes. Darshan and Puneeth Rajkumar launched the film and even those scenes are incorporated in the film.

Cameraman-turned-director J G Krishna has used his good offices to bring in almost every well-known actor to be part of the film for free. ‘Bullet’ Prakash, who is also co-producing the film, hasn’t spared any efforts either. The songs are a hit since their release a month ago and industry pundits are predicting that this film will have an opening equal to the film of a top star. Raghu plays a director and Prakash his assistant in the film. All the actors appearing as guests in this film therefore appear as themselves. Kannada actress Neetu plays the love interest.