Karma Cartel I was privileged to be part of a private screening of Karma Cartel in October 2013 in London. Since then, the film has had private screenings in Kochi - India, both among the arts community and film industry professionals. What struck me most, and I say this from a perspective of an individual that does not watch a lot of Indian films as I believe it is formulaic, repetitive and catered to mass market business. So is Hollywood for that matter but less repetitive. When I do watch films, I look for certain elements that strike my personal tastes. Vinod Bharathan has managed to do just that. I found his short films very raw and direct. This was a theme I noticed in his recent Karma series of films. First Karma Code, then Karma Currency and now his full length feature Karma Cartel. In each of these films, Vinod Bharathan has managed to keep a simple story engaging, evenly paced and the characters real. The sourcing of the background music tracks and it's use within the film at different segments adds to the pace and engagement. Brilliant piece of film making! The characters are simple, real and yet interesting for the viewer to come away from the film thinking ' what if I was in that situation?' This is what kept my attention. The actors in this film have done a magnificent job of portraying the characters and most importantly, keeping it real. The scenes are shot in wide angle and the interaction between the characters give you the impression that they are right there in front of you in the same room! The story takes you on a ride, motoring along on the back of some brilliantly chosen underground Asian music. And so I wish him all the luck in achieving his dream of bringing this particular genre of film to the Indian film market. Karma Cartel is not just another film, it is an experience. Hence, this note of support, for a brilliant film maker who fights the odds and battles convention.
LondonBobUk A person who does not watch a gazillion films a year.
