Film: " Prarthane";
Cast: Anant Nag, Prakash Raj, Pavitra Lokesh, Master
Manoj, Master Sachin, Ashok, Sudha Murthy, B.C. Patil and Dinesh
Mangalore;
Screenplay writer-Director: Sadashiva Shenoy;
Producers:
G.C.Pushpa and N. Harish;
Story Writer: J.M.Prahlad;
Composer: Veera
Samarth;
Camera: S. Ramachandra;
Rating: *** 1/2
Journalist
Sadhashiva Shenoy has shows a lot of promise with his first directorial
venture " Prarthane", which shows how Kannada medium schools are
neglected in the state. The film is appropriately timed as there is a
move by the state government to close down such schools where the
attendance is below 10 students per class.
The English medium
schools are flourishing even in the rural areas as villagers prefer to
send their children to the 'well run' English medium schools despite
abnormal admission rates. Kannada medium schools not only suffer from
infrastructure, but
lack of quality teachers.
Shenoy throws
light on this aspect as well as United Nations report which has warned
that many local languages, including Kannada, are on the verge of
extinction because of the absolute loss of focus in developing the
languages.
Shenoy narrates the film in an interesting fashion
and engages the viewers. He is also successful in sending out his
message through brisk narrative and penetrative dialogues.
J.M.
Prahlad, who has written the story and dialogues of the film, has to be
complimented for writing such a contemporary story.
The
starting sequence and the end scene leading to the climax will really
touch viewers' heartstrings. It will also make viewers introspect about
the present situation where regional languages are facing a big threat
from the spread of English language.
Shenoy teamed up with some
of the best artists in the Kannada film industry like Anant Nag, Prakash
Raj, Pavithra Lokesh and many others and it made his work much easier.
His screenplay is the real hero as he does not allow the narration to
deviate from the prime focus.
Shenoy should be complimented
for not making the film too melodramatic. He narrates the sequences as
an honest reporter without taking sides and not allowing sequences to
have sentimental overtones.
The film suffers from technical hitches, perhaps because of budget constraint, but still it is better placed.
Anant
Nag as a Kannada teacher who puts his heart and soul to make his
institution a a model school proves once again that he is a top line
actor in the country. His dialogue delivery, controlled performance is
sure to win the heart of viewers.
Without a doubt Prakash Raj is brilliant too.
If
Pavithra Lokesh, Dinesh Mangalore, Ashok, B.C. Patil shine in their
respective roles, child artists too have excelled in their roles. Veera
Samarth gives a good background score for the film and the song
"Jayabharathi" is soothing to ears.
Camera work is average.
" Prarthane" is a really good attempt and deserves to be encouraged. By V.S. Rajapur © IANS
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