Salute to all mothers

Vajrakaya
Kannada (U/A), Cast: Shivrajkumar,
Shubra Aiyappa, Karunya Ram, Nabha Natesh,
Padmaja Rao, Avinash
Director: A Harsha

The director-actor duo of Harsha and Shivrajkumar is back with Vajrakaya. Except for slight tinkering of script and story, Vajrakaya is akin to the 2013 boxoffice blockbuster Bhajarangi. If in Bhajarangi you had a satanic tantrik in a non-descript hamlet of Ramadurga wreaking havoc on hapless inhabitants, looting, raping and killing women, in Vajrakaya you have demonic Huzur, the patriarchal feudal lord of Jungle Kanife, rendering every woman of the village a widow, including his own daughter, when they wed without consent or outside commune.

Likewise, if in Bhajarangi, Shivrajkumar comes to Ramadurga tracing his janma rahaysa (mystery of birth), in Vajrakaya, he rides from city home in search of his biological mother Lakshmi, and, in the process, also teaches his grandfather, who, incidentally is the despotic Huzur, a thing or two on family values.

Seeped in maternal sentimental values — where Shivrajkumar mouths the choicest homilies extolling the virtues of a mother and how one should protect and respect her — Vajrakaya turns out a high-decibel drama. Shivrajkumar packs a punch, with his fists of fury delivering lethal blows on all detractors. The film may be without the mandatory machhu and laang, and sheds no blood, but director Harsha ensures his childhood hero makes the most of his six packs.

Technically polished, with flamboyantly filmed stunt sequences, Vajrakaya sustains interest through its three foot-tapping, colourfully choreographed songs. Also while reprising the role of Veera Pratap Simha, Hat-trick Hero Shivrajkumar ensures fans go into frenzy. But it is Nabha Natesh who is the real hero. She steals the thunder despite the cameo as Pataka Parvathi in a glorious rendition of a village belle, a Hindi-speaking motormouth. In fact, all hosannas should go to her.
If you can suffer the crass comic interludes, then Vajrakaya is paisa vasool, seeti time at the theatres.