Love and action

Undertaking to make films based on real-life incidents is like walking a tightrope. The filmmaker should not only digress from truth, but also see that the project succeeds at the box office.

Vasista Pictures Kadhalar Kudiyiruppu, produced by Indhumathi and directed by AMR Ramesh, is set in the backdrop of violence that took place in Bangalore after the demolition of Babri Masjid. There is no doubt the film, a love story, has tried to live up to audience's expectations. That Ramesh, who earlier did Kuppi, has taken a lot of care to stick to the original incident is evident right through the film. However, one wished the film had a different climax — it would have been gripping.

Venkatesh Gouder (Dharma) and Viswanatha Iyer (Avinash) are constables attached to the same police station. They are great friends. One day, Gouder dies and Iyer helps his wife Jayamma (Saranya) and son lead a respectable life. Iyer has two daughters — the eldest Anitha (Shruthi) always fights with Gouder's son Asvin (Aneesh). Anitha is to marry Rohith (Lohith). On the day of Babri Masjid demolition, riots break out in Bangalore following which Anita finds it difficult to return home from college. She calls up Rohith and asks him to escort her home, but he refuses to do so. Anitha then calls up Jayamma who sends her son Asvin to pick her up. In spite of the problems, Asvin safely brings Anitha back to her house. She falls in love with him. Whether they unite in marriage forms the rest of the plot.

From the beginning, one is aware that the story happens in Bangalore — the shots showing the roadside banners in Kannada and the Kar Sevaks collecting bricks with Kannada letters on them only reinforce this. In fact, it leaves one wondering whether one is watching a Kannada film. However, the riots shown on screen lack the intensity to convey that the lead pair is going through a traumatic day in their lives.

New-find Aneesh has the looks and his performance passes muster. The same cannot be said about his co-star Shruthi. Saranya and Avinash shine in their respective roles. When Saranya gets to know her son loves Anitha and that it is not the other way round, she bursts into a whole range of emotions, which is a treat to watch. Dilipraj as the friend Raju, Lohith as Rohith, the bridegroom, and Dharma as Gouder have done a neat job.

It is music director James Vasanthan who keeps the momentum intact with his good re-recording; his songs too make an impact. Dwarakanath's camerawork is noteworthy.

Kadhalar Kudiyiruppu

Genre: Romance

Director: AMR.Ramesh

Cast: Aneesh, Shruti, Saranya, Dilipraj, Avinash, Dharma and Lohith.

Storyline: A love story set in the backdrop of violence that took place in Bangalore after the demolition of Babri Masjid

Bottomline: Good in parts.