Of marital blues & woman's wants

Niruttara
Kannada (U)***
Cast: Bhavana Ramanna, Rahul Bose, Kiran Srinivas, Aindrita Ray
Director: Apurva Kasarvalli

Produced by Bhavana Ramanna, Niruttara, turns apt vehicle to showcase her acting talent. She plays the role of a bored, affection starved and wistful Hindustani music loving Hamsa. However, film per se, debutant directorial essay by Apurva Kasarvalli, turns out tad tedious.

Hemmed in by rich legacy of his illustrious father Girish Kasarvalli, Apurva tries to assimilate his father’s aesthetics, investing his own cinematic yen, and therein lies Niruttara’s fault. That the film is 150 plus minutes does it in.

What, however, ensures discerning cinema lover’s interest does not flag, is H M Ramachandra’s picturesque, vibrant cinematography, and soothing score of Niladri Kumar, whose one song you carry home.

That said, Niruttara revolves around Hamsa, who craves for caring and loving company of her otherwise workholic corporate hubby Pradeep. Even as their marital boat is rocking, enters Achint, rock musician, fancy free and footloose, full of joi de vivre, into her life, courtesy Shravya, her documentary filmmaker friend. Incidentally, Achint, who has spotted Hamsa at a wedding has flipped for her, readily agreeing to accompany them on their expedition.

From mutual appreciation and interest in music binding them, Achint warms up to their growing friendship, and soon enough, Hamsa takes the proverbial plunge.
Apurva in nuanced manner, languid, listless pace, explores relationships in today’s context questioning traditional narratives of commitment, trust, loyalty and sacrifices, women make in marriages.

However, his laboured, dialogue heavy film, with allegorical overtones, makes Niruttara, boasting of rich production values, weighty watch. Needless to say Apurva has several summers to see to reach his father’s versatility.

Rahul Bose, like Aindrita Ray, is just incidental, for Bhavana to explore her metier as actress. Rahul Bose, though impressive, is woefully wasted in inconsequential role, while Aindrita Ray is just pretty prop.