The art-house cinemas either rake up the issues prevailing or just put it before in the mass media what's happening. In this case shirking the responsibility of the maker is what surfaces. In this `Puttakkana Highway' director B Suresha knows how to put the scenario of displacement of village life against displacement. He does not favor both or gives solution for the inevitable - development.
The just announced best regional cinema at the 58th National Awards `Puttakkana Highway' based on the novel of Nagathihalli Chandrasekhar `Puttakkana Medical College' is irrelevant to the present day context. For the development of High Ways the government is not snatching the lands of agriculturists but giving a good compensation. There are many examples of farmers becoming rich by giving away land to government for development and living happily.
Instead of this angle the director B Suresha should have given alternative measures to the losers of land in the name of development. The development for the good and the government policies is an accepted phenomenon. No one can decry it. Under such circumstances how the life of villagers is getting destabilized and how culture and tradition is uprooted stand strong despite of development would have been appropriate. In a remote village of India there is no water but soft drinks are available. Why such things are happening is most essential factor for people to know.
A director adapting the novel should also take the liberty in answering the questions that crop up in the mass media when such films are made.
In the narration of 10 years flashback style director B Suresha shows the hapless woman walking around for two years. Like this several questions the director fails to answer and yet win the award at the national level.
Puttakka (Shruthi) with the Samadhi of her husband on her piece of land is depending on mother earth for living. The coming up of national highways is the root cause for her worries. With double standard village panchayat she tries to save her land but it goes in vain. Development policies of the government snatch her land almost. She is left with a few `Guntas'. Puttakka knock at the government in her journey it is a futile attempt. To her shock and dismay when she returns finds her own daughter in the brothel business. She becomes a mute spectator to all nasty developments in her life.
Actress Shruthi is a good performer. There is no effort from the director in strengthening her role according to her capability. Prakash Raj a very fine actor of this country fails to deliver. He is in a short role working as mediator striving to get hold of Puttakka for his needs - this was not expected and not a fitting role to the giant actor. Achyuthkumar, Satish, Veena Sunder, RGV, Suresh, Baby Prakruthi all give good support.
The film is good in two areas - cinematography and music. HM Ramachandra has utilized the exteriors so well in his camera. Hamsalekha in his music with Yogaraj Bhat lyrics steals the show in this dry film.
The effort in making this `Puttakkana Highway' by Media house and Duet Movies is not a solid effort.
Score - 6/10
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