"Righta Thappa", a film based on a real life incident, is a welcome change from the tasteless films with illogical plots that are churned out week after week.
"Righta Thappa" is realistic and devoid of trappings of action, violence and sex. It is an honest film made with honesty and passion though it is average as far as technical finesse is concerned.
The film tells the story of a young student Satya. Like any other young man, he has dreams. He wants to complete his graduation, study law and then take care of his widowed mother and his sister.
However, Satya's dreams are shattered because of a 'wrong' (thappu) he commits one day at the instigation of his friends.
His unruly friends unsuccessfully try several times to make Satya join them in eve teasing and drinking. One day, however, Satya succumbs and drinks with them.
His friends then coax him to tease some girls on the beach. Satya, under the influence of alcohol, complies.
He then passes out in a drunken stupor while, unknown to him, his friends push the girls into the sea.
The girls drown and the blame falls on Satya. His so-called friends deny their involvement and turn their backs on Satya, who is arrested and jailed.
The film then moves on to show how Satya accepts his fate and how his mother helplessly fights to save her son.
Director R. Bhuvana is a conscientious filmmaker. She has made several short films and television serials after working as a journalist. Her short films "Ayesha" and "Ini" won many international awards.
Her belief that a film must have a message to convey and that a filmmaker has a responsibility to society comes through in "Righta Thappa", her first feature film.
Through her film, Bhuvana tries to convey the message that alcohol and eve teasing will only ruin lives of youth.
Apart from Bhuvana, the credit for the success of the film goes to Seetha who enacts the role of Satya's mother. Her understated acting is a treat to watch. Ramana as Satya also is good.
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