A rollicking romcom

Sundaranga Jaana
Kannada (U)¬¬¬¬
Cast: Ganesh, Shanvi Srivastava, Devraj, Rangayana Raghu, Ravishankar Gowda
Director: Ramesh Aravind

Salute Ramesh Aravind! Schooled in the Kamal Hassan style of movie-making, the director shows his mentor’s touch in every frame.

Though a remake of 2015 Telugu film Bhale Bhale Magadivoy, Ramesh ensures that Sundaranga Jaana is every audience’s delight. Over two-and-a-half-hour of unabashed escapist entertainment — a fare that can be watched with family without any blushes. The film’s only minus is its length, as also the needless digression at the fag end.

Thanks to Ramesh, even Golden Star Ganesh, who has been too predictable, is a delight to watch. As Laxmiprasad aka Lucky, who has a short memory, his comic timing is perfect.

Newbie Shanvi Srivastava as Nandana more than matches the seasoned Ganesh. Shanvi is not only a pretty face with screen presence, but also a confident performer.

As with every romcom, Sundaranga Jaana, too, has a besotted beau caught on the wrong foot with his prospective father-in-law Panduranga Rao, a security agency owner. The disciplinarian Rao believes in 3Ms — memory, money and manners. Our Lucky lacks all the three prerequisites, but is bestowed with a golden heart.

Filmi romances never have a smooth ride. So you a villain in khaki, Ajay, the scheming son of Rao’s best buddy, who casts an evil eye on his daughter Nandana. The film, which takes its title from the famous track of 1970 Kannada film Samshaya Pahla, boasts of a pleasing score by Ajaneesh Loknath.

A paisa-vasool entertainer, Sundaranga Jaana has the indelible stamp of seasoned Ramesh written all over it. Mast maja madi. This jaana and his jaani will bowl you over.