ReviewA sports drama that puts the spotlight on kho-kho, the story is told through Sharan, who joins a village school as the Physical Education (Pt) teacher.Shivani KavaScreengrab/YouTubeSet in 1995, director Jadeesha K Hampi’s Guru Shishyaru is a sports drama that puts the spotlight on kho-kho. It highlights how lack of exposure in the 90s resulted in a drop in participation and enthusiasm toward the game when compared to cricket or basketball. The story is told through Manohara (Sharan) who joins a school in Bettadapura village as the Physical Education (Pt) teacher and is assigned to coach the kho-kho team. What follows is a tug of war between the teacher and his students. Bettadapura is dealing with its own issues because of a swindler named Ranganna (Apurva Kasaravalli), who is pressuring the village residents to give up the land that belonged to his grandparents before the Union government implemented...
- 9/23/2022
- by ShivaniK
- The News Minute
ReviewA first-of-its-kind attempt in Sandalwood, director Dayal Padmanabhan’s film deserves to be lauded for the responsible portrayal of a sensitive issue.Aravind ShwethaYouTube screenshotThe Nirbhaya incident in 2012 shook the conscience of the entire nation. It’s been almost 7 years, but the brutal rape and assault of the young woman still sends shivers down one’s spine. Two weeks after the heinous incident, the braveheart breathed her last. What if she had survived? What if she had to wake up every day and face society and the rude comments, the sympathy, victimisation and more? Ranganayaki: Volume 1 – Virginity explores this angle. Ranganayaki (Aditi Prabhudeva) is a practical, independent, content woman working as a music teacher. She has a good job, good friends and a man who loves her unconditionally (Trivikram). She also has a ‘secret admirer’ in Krishnamurthy (Mg Srinivasa). When Ranganayaki and Trivikram get engaged, Krishnamurthy is heartbroken. After the engagement,...
- 11/1/2019
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
SandalwoodTouted to be a horror comedy, ‘Damayanthi’ is a period flick set in the 90s with oodles of VFX included.Digital NativeYouTube screenshotThe teaser and second look of Radhika Kumaraswamy starrer Damayanthi was released recently. The film is directed by Navarasan, who is also the producer of the film. Released in all southern languages, the teaser starts with a huge abandoned palace with frightening visuals ending with Radhika seen in a fearsome avatar. Touted to be a horror comedy, the film has Radhika playing the title role. It is a period flick set in the 90s with oodles of VFX included. The story revolves around Damayanthi, daughter of Rajendra Varma from the Devapura royal family, who is a doctor by profession. Her whole family is killed by her distant relative for money and the plot is about how she takes revenge after 15 to 20 years with the help of the hero and friends.
- 10/7/2019
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
SandalwoodWhile the trailer promised an engaging comic entertainer, the film follows an 'old wine in new bottle' format.Aravind ShwethaFor Sandalwood, 2018 ended with a big bang, thanks to Yash’s Kgf: Chapter 1, which kept the hopes of the audience soaring for 2019. The film, considered to be a magnum opus, not only broke records but also set high standards. The first Kannada release of 2019, Fortuner, with its engaging trailer, had promised a comic entertainer. However, the film follows the “old wine in new bottle” format, making it an uninteresting watch. Partha (Diganth) is a local Mla’s son and a spoilt brat. He is not interested in politics or securing a job. He meets Anusha (Sonu Gowda), a techie, and immediately falls in love with her. After lying through his teeth about his livelihood, he marries her. Anusha gets to know that Partha is a jobless man and is disgusted by his attitude.
- 1/4/2019
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
ReviewAfter a long time, an interesting suspense thriller has made its way to the theatres.Aravind ShwethaWhat happens when a bunch of seasoned actors join hands with a clever director? - Aa Karaala Ratri (The Intense Dark Night) aka a suspense thriller, which makes quite an impact! What was planned in the ‘Bigg’ House (Bigg Boss House) has been well executed in a small house by the director! In the end, the Aa Karaala Ratri team, most of whom were Bigg Boss 5 contestants (2018 season), has managed to pull off a surprise in the absence of any A-list actor. After a long time, an interesting suspense thriller has made its way to the theatres. The film not only manages to keep the audience on the edge of their seats but also thoroughly entertains throughout, with unexpected twists and turns leading to an unseen climax. Suspense thrillers can be classified into two types – a badly executed film that gives away all the elements in the first half, encouraging the audience to walk out of the theatres in the intermission. The second one knows how to exactly control even the blinking of the audience’s eyes. Aa Karaala Ratri belongs to the second category and has become the talk of the town. The film opens with Pkh Das’ camera showing us the serene and green Chikkamagaluru, where the story unfolds in a small house. In fact, the scenes just juggle between the house and a liquor shop located nearby. Initially, the film revolves around three actors – Muthanna (Rangayana Raghu), a drunkard, his compassionate wife Gowramma (Veena Sundar) and their daughter Mallika (Anupama Gowda), a frustrated but fearless woman. The peace in the house is stirred by the arrival of two men – a soothsayer (Naveen Krishna) and Channakeshava (Karthik Jayaram), the man with a secret suitcase, which opens a brilliant twist about how greed, lust and desire can overpower values like love, empathy and compassion. With minimal characters, the film has turned out just fine. The actors know their roles and have excelled in them. Raghu and Veena portray the role with ease as usual. TV actor Anupama, who is making her debut on the silver screen, makes an impression. Though Karthik needs to work on his diction, he is decent in the role of Channakeshava. Simple language, coupled with a few unheard lines from Mankuthimmana Kagga (poems by Dv Gundappa), make the dialogues intriguing. The other two Bigg Boss contestants, Sihi Kahi Chandru and Jaya Srinivasan, who have minor roles to play, have done them justice. The film is an adaptation of a play of the same name. Director Dayal Padmanabhan surely knows how to give a filmy touch to the play, for this is his second such film after Haggada Kone, which received critical acclaim. With minimal resources, Dayal has extracted the maximum and it is evident on the big screen. Dayal, who has worked with well-known directors in the past, has demonstrated that a suspense thriller can be crafted with lesser-known actors devoid of the routine ingredients. Ganesh Narayan’s background score complements the fast screenplay. But the songs are just okay. This is one department the team could have concentrated on. Overall, Aa Karaala Ratri is a good entertainer that can be watched with the family. (Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the film. Neither Tnm nor any of its reviewers have any sort of business relationship with the film's producers or any other members of its cast and crew.)...
- 7/13/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
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