Question everything, answer nothing

S Shyam Prasad | NT

Bengaluru: Parodies don’t have a noticeable presence in Sandalwood. They are so rare that this film can be termed a novel attempt. Not that movies about filmmaking and the struggles of actors aren’t made in Kannada; they are dime a dozen. But South Indian Hero is bold enough to categorize itself as a spoof.

While lampooning the workings of the film industry, it manages to make a subtle yet strong statement about it. Our hero is a genius in the world of physics. In his world, nothing works without logic and he has to get to the root of a logical conclusion in everything he does. When such a character becomes part of the film industry as an actor, it is a clash of logic and magic.

As he encounters various ‘cinematic’ characters from a failed director to a charming actress, his life is set for a rollercoaster ride. Director Naresh Kumar HN deserves all the applause for a sensible film that seeks answers for the seemingly insensible potpourri that make up ‘commercial’ films.

From the title of the film to some hilarious takes on stardom and fanatical fan culture, South Indian Hero was a parody that was waiting to be made. The film is also worthwhile for the good performances of the actors, especially Saarthak, Kaashima Rafi and Urvashi Jayan. They portray the characters effortlessly.

Saarthak is impressive as both the logicseeking Lakshman Rao and the movie star Lucky. The character’s transformation from a physics teacher to an overnight sensation is wellfleshed out by the writers and agreeably showcased by the actor. Overall the film is far from perfect.

There are as usual the unwanted ‘commercial’ elements that mar every ‘commercial film’. However, the touch of satire and comedy manages to fill up these shortcomings. The quality of the content does not match the quality of the making which cannot be blamed on the director.

The dialogues and music though are more than a notch above being good. For Naresh Kumar, South Indian Hero is a good progression as a director. His earlier films; First Rank Raju and Raju Kannada Medium had elements of goofiness and fantasy respectively. This one is comical but understatedly handles an important subject. This film is not just for laughs but if you want just the laughs, it still makes for a good outing.

Film: South Indian Hero

Language: Kannada

Cast: Saarthak, Kaashima Rafi, Urvashi Jayan, Vijay Chendoor, Yogaraj Bhat, Ashwini Rao Pallakki

Director: Naresh Kumar HN

Duration: 156 minutes

Certificate: U/A

Stars: ***