A riveting rural romance

Geetha Bangle Store
Kannada (U) , Director: Manju Mitra
Cast: Pramod Panju, Nikeesha Patel, Sushimita, Bhavya Vinaya Prasad, Achyut Kumar, Veena Sundar, Kari Subbu, B M Giriraj

Though having been two years in the making, Manju Mitra’s Geetha Bangle Store, comes as welcome breeze on an arid Sandalwood marquee. Starved of decent fare, audiences athirst for meaningful fare, should be pleased with Geetha Bangle Store. Not that Mitra’s fare offers new in terms of theme or tribulations it deals with.

 However, what is heartening is, Mitra, has eschewed commercial call, though he could have done away even more given the film’s length, and come up with realistic flick that makes one sit and watch, engrossed as the tragic drama unfolds.

Geetha Bangle Store is a moving tale of two families in a non-decrepit village of Ramapatna where romance unfolds amidst sylvan setting and verdant landscapes.  Like any typical rural milieu, caste and class divides, filial differences, alcoholism, rule roost where Veerabhadra, a college student, takes on the onus of his family like a responsible son should.

Likewise, Geetha, studying in same college, is the daughter of street side bangle seller. Though, Veerabhadra is attracted to Geetha, however, does not express his feelings.

As cupid blossoms between two besotted younglings, the village, in keeping with modern day development mechanics, sees Geetha’s family and other roadside vendors in turmoil, when government decides to widen the road. Evacuated from their place of business and loss of livelihood, as Geetha’s mother faces a dilemma, Veerabhadra steps in with monetary help, which sees the birth of Geetha Bangle Store.

However, his benign act, does not go well with his father, who, on learning of his son’s benevolence, objects leading to ruptures in the family. Why the objection? What happens to star-crossed lovers and ill-fated families, forms the fulcrum of Geetha Bangle Store.
Realistically narrated, Mitra infuses his assuredness of craft into an otherwise oft-beaten saga.

The result, Geetha Bangle Store, nicely performed by ensemble cast, including debutant pair, embellished by evocative and enchanting cinematography by Cinetech Suri, which captures the hinterlands in its verdant, vibrant hues, and V Manohar’s catchy music, which lend special lustre and luminescence, makes for must watch movie, despite its length.  Go for it.