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.
AITHALAKADI - Kannada movie review
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.
ULLASA UTSAHA - Kannada Film Review
DIRECTOR: Devaraja Palan
ACTORS: Ganesh, Yami Goutham, Sharan,Rangayana Raghu
A star cast in a particular brand has a great task doing movies that would appeal to his core audience. And to satisfy the paying audience beyond that fan base is much harder. Ganesh, who had run into a rough patch not so long ago has undoubtedly bounced back with a film that would add to his romantic image. This film for the record is the remake of the Telugu film Ullasanga Utsahanga.
A young girl from a dysfunctional family yearns for her childhood friend Balaji. As she grows up she believes she is in love with him though she does not meet him for years. She runs away from a wedding her stepmother arranges for her. Cut to the city, Preetham (Ganesh) a dandy and misfit in his family falls in love with her. He cannot reconcile the fact that she is in love with someone else. But he respects her decision and tries to help her find lost love. They journey together to Kolkota where Balaji is waiting for her. How this love triangle disentangles itself is shown in some sentimental, a few romantic and a couple of humorous scenes.
Ganesh is at his best in scenes where he plays the losing lover. It is one of those filmi episodes that he has made his very own. For some reason, his looks in Ullasa Utsaha are the best in any of his films. Newcomer and Mumbai import Yami Goutham looks like Haripriya. She is adequate in the role but the chemistry between the lead pair is not great. GV Prakash Kumar, a relative of AR Rehman, scores for his first Kannada film. Only a couple of songs are top class. The rest are plain.
What works for the film is the strict adherence to a well worked out storyline and the comedy situations that are worked into it. A truly enjoyable film. But be wary of Sandalwood cinema halls. Make sure the one you visit has the AC working. The 'main theatre' (a superstitious release of every Kannada film in one cinema hall in Gandhinagar) goes horribly wrong for this film. Anupama, the cinema hall running this film has only ceiling fans that suck out air and gives you a sweat shower.
Humour sells in Kannada films
Industry insiders say that their yearly earnings could match top kannada stars like Vishnuvardhan, Puneeth Rajkumar, Upendra and Sudeep who are content with acting in a couple of films a year. Only Shiva Rajkumar, Darshan and a few others with a continuous stream of films would beat comedians in the numbers game.
‘Mukhyamantri’ Chandru, Umashree and Doddanna are also in the Rs 1 lakh plus per day bracket, but political commitments and health reasons do not permit them to take up projects by the dozen like the others. Bullet Prakash and director Omprakash Rao are the other comedy actors close to this category.
“Earlier also, there were comedians who had star value. Directors used to book Balanna (Balakrishna) and Narasimha Raju before they took the call sheets of lead actors. They were considered more important than the lead actors for those films,” said senior film critic A S Murthy. “Today, what is fuelling the demand for comedy and character artistes is the profusion of youngsters. Fearing that newcomers cannot carry the film on their shoulders all alone, a strong supporting cast is selected. This is the reason for their demand,” he added.
BRANCHING OUT
Komal started his career as a lead actor. But just a couple of films later, he was relegated to being a comedy actor which he was not happy with. He even demanded that he be called just an actor and not a ‘comedy’ actor. Life has come full circle for him after ‘Mr Garagasa.’
He played the lead in the hit film last year and is now concentrating on playing lead roles. He is now directing his own film ‘Chamkaisi Chindi Udayisi.’ Sadhu Kokila started as a music director and has also directed a few films, but he is most in demand as a comedy actor.
SOME FEEL LEFT OUT
Luck has not favoured everyone though. Actors like Jai Jagadish, Sundar Raj and Ramkrishna have been in the industry for more than three decades. They have played lead roles themselves. But they do not command the same kind of remuneration like some of the comedy kings. “I do not blame those who are earning good remuneration, but being ignored after being around for decades feels like an insult. Some directors like S Narayan understand our abilities and give us good roles and pay decent remuneration, but I am ashamed at how many others treat us,” said senior actor Sundar Raj. Jai Jagadish also echoes a similar sentiment. Being a senior producer himself, he has his hands full, but feels indignant about being offered roles in other films with nominal remuneration.
comedy actors who command Rs 1 lakh plus per day include Sadhu Kokila, Rangayana Raghu, Komal, Sharan, Doddanna, ‘Mukhyamantri’ Chandru, Umashree, Bullet Prakash, Omprakash Rao.
Non-comedy actors who command Rs 1 lakh plus per day include Anant Nag, Avinash and Kishore.
The below Rs 1 lakh category is dominated by comedy actors like Sanket Kashi,Karibasavaiah, Michael Madhu, ‘Kurigalu’ Prataph, Rekha Das and others. But most often they are not in the position to demand a specific remuneration.
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