In the debut attempt Agni Sridhar an orator and literary personality showed his supremacy in picking a Hindu and Muslim subject. The narration is brilliant and the issue handled is sensible. This kind of film is needed for the close affinity of two major religions of this sub continent. The relevance of the film and matured style of narration that is supported well by the actors and technicians takes the film to the greater heights. This is not just a regional film but caters to the country. In that way the home work of Agni Sridhar is splendid.
As a debutant but of course sitting behind three films `Aa Dinagalu', `Slum Bala' and Kallara Santhe' in this independent direction Agni Sridhar has taken only the Hindu and Muslim clashes and served his own parameter for better ending. Emotion is the same for Muslim and Hindus. Inside the screenplay Agni Sridhar tucks an important issue how innocent Muslims like Imran Khan are gunned down by the police. Thank God (Allah and Ram) that he has not mixed the political dosage!
Yet the song Raam Raam Kochu Kochu.Allah Allah Maro Maro could have been avoided. Because Sridhar has a strong substance in script, sensitive handling is there to safeguard him. Without the song also the cinema is fine.
When the Hindu and Muslim violence erupts in Tannery Road, Bangalore the upright cop ACP Shanker (Shivarajakumar) is hit badly and he takes attention in the house where father and daughter Nazer Khan and Amrin (Nazer and Harshika Poonacha) are living. After recovery of bad hit Shanker is in an emotional battle in his life as he is the one who shot down Imran Khan (Yash) who is the son of this Muslim house. As the days pass Shanker realizes how good the family of Nazer Khan is. He gives the brotherly affection to Amrin.
It is in this house Shanker is in the flash back mood that explains his love affair with Dr Shanthi (Padmapriya) who has adopted a cute child Bharathi in her life. ACP Shanker and Dr Shanthi often quarrel on divergent views that one fine day breaks the relationship. Dr Shanthi calls ACP Shanker as trigger happy man. It is the professional quarrel that also explains the thoughts of the director Agni Sridhar.
Now in the final round of `Thamassu' it is the search of truth what ACP Shanker opts for. For that he goes to Masthan (Sharath Lohitashva) who is inducing the youths sending them to Pakistan to get trained in handling weapons. Imran Khan to know more about Muslim religion accidentally comes to Masthan but he is not convinced with the Muslim preaching of Masthan. That results in revenge between Masthan and Imran Khan. In one of the encounters the culprits (from Masthan gang) disclose the name of Imran Khan to the police. This has eventually led to killing of Imran Khan by ACP Shanker.
In the eyes of Shanker and the audience who are seeing the cinema Imran Khan is innocent. As moral responsibility ACP Shanker reunites the bridegroom Roshan for Amrin and wish to keep Nazer Khan in his house as a salvation for the crime he has committed unknowingly.
Shivarajakumar and Padmapriya are in a contest in acting. Shivarajakumar emotional `Boss' today in Kannada cinema gives another pretty good performance. His voice modulation, looks, emotions, application of mind is superb.
All Mallu girls are better performers it seems. Padmapriya is another example. She has great skill and looks admirable. Nazer has given a controlled performance, Harshika Poonacha is steady throughout. Asif, Sharat Lohitashva rendered good support. The Chairman of Kanteerava studios Girish Mattannavar does not get noticed on screen.
The other high point of this film is Sundaranath Suvarana cinematography. Suvarana does not give room for any shortfalls. His takings, lighting inside and outdoor is remarkable. The close up conversations of Shivarajakumar, Padmapriya and Sharat Lohitashva is more attractive.
Sandeep Chowta gives two lovely tunes and his background scoring is fabulous. `Nannanne Maretha Naa Indhu.' is the best one.
Minus the song `Maro Maro Allah..Kochu Kochu Raam Raam.' this film is fabulous and timely one.
Scoring 8/10
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