Bereft of ideas and starved of themes, Kannada filmdom seems to have reached its nadir. With censors putting their blinkers on, rowdyism seems to rule the roost in every film churned out of Gandhinagar factory. Another assemblyline fare dished out in the belief every innocent man is turned into rowdy due to wrongs of society is Hatrick Hero Shivarajkumar starrer Santha.
What turns an innocent, large-hearted yokel, leading a life of bliss into ravaging rowdy, and how Santhosha becomes scourge of society Santha is what Murali Mohan tries to dish out as high decible entertainment. Mohan splashes the silverscreen blood and gore, that even die-hard Shivanna fans, expecting a pastime fare, give thumbs down to the trite tripe. Santha, with shades of Om and Jogi, is a dampsquib. Sucked into taking law unto his own hand is rustic Santhosha, who heads to Silicon City to earn moolah for his mentally challenged twin sisters’ surgery to punish those who wronged him. A benign hearted nurseling in the shapely Ramya (Arathi Chabria) tries to strike cupid’s arrow in him. With Santhosha turned rock solid Santa nothing can distract him from Mission Impossible. Shivarajkumar is his imposing self. Former super cop H T Sangliana provides comic relief with anglicised Kannada. Sridevika and Arathi Chabria are just props. If Sandalwood continues with rowdy sheeters Silicon City could have new sobriquet Rowdy City. Amen!