The film which won two state awards in the category of art direction (for director and art director of this film G Murthy), best voice over (for Champa Shetty) and the best actress award for the beautiful Lakshmi Hegde, which was a near miss in the recently announced Karnataka state film awards for 2007-2008, 'Kurunadu' has set the standard with its subject, cinematography and performance. The focus to religious sentiments, environment protection, and the need of civilization for tribal people are the hallmark of G. Murthy's maiden directorial venture.
A tiny remote island 'Kurunadu' has not seen the progress in this 21st century. There is no educational facility, hospital, schools and above all the island is not connected to any other places. This place is dominated by orthodox Brahmin Shankara Bhatta (HG Dattatreya). His ulterior motive is that getting a bridge for the people he would lose control and second the environment will be destructed as the influx increases.
'Kurunadu' is in the firm grip of Shankara Bhatta. In such scenario, the daughter in law who comes to this house Suruchi (Lakshmi Hegde) a city bred educated girl is baffled with the ordeals faced by the island people. When Thukra a tribal dies due to lack of medical attention, Suruchi takes up the interest of the tribes in the island against all odds. She comes out from the orthodox family to settle with the tribal people in the island and that irks Shakara Bhatta immensely. Suruchi slowly transform the status of people for better standards. When Shankara Bhatta himself needs immediate medical attention Suruchi with the help of tribes shows humanity. At this point Suruchi wins over her father in law that eventually helps her to get a bridge that connects the people with the outer world.
Beautiful actress Lakshmi Hegde has delivered a superb performance. She really deserves the state award for her performance but she did not dub her portion due to which she missed the state award. The strong contender always on silver screen for any given role is two times national award winner, H.G.Dattatreya for supporting cast who is affectionately known as Dattanna. As Shankara Bhatta he has filled lot of vigor to the role.
PKH Das is splendid in his camera work. He steals the show for capturing nature's beauty in the island and the surroundings of 'Kurunadu' (situated near Kundapura), the water area in Kundapura surroundings. Pravin Godkhindi uses flute in most of the cases to give background music and keeps up the tempo of the film.
This is a well made film and deserves an applause for the theme that inculcates modern thoughts for the uncivilized people.
Scoring : 7/10
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