Ananthu v/s Nusrath review: Too much of everything

Ananthu v/s Nusrath

Kannada (U)

Cast: Vinay Rajkumar, Latha Hegde, Ravi Shankar, B Suresha

Director: Sudheer Shanbhogue

Rating: 2.5/5

"Too many cooks spoil the broth" (uppittu, in this case) best describes Ananthu v/s Nusrath.

When one says the film has action, comedy, drama, romance etc, it is bound to end up like a uppittu with either too much or too little of everything, with no kesari bath.

Ananthu v/s Nusrath suffers the same fate — it touches upon triple talaq, inter-religion marriage, divorce, the law establishment, astrology for match-making and professional ethics.

The film contrasts the world of Ananthu (Vinay Rajkumar), a smart and often manipulative advocate from an orthodox Hindu family, and Nusrat Fathima Baig (Latha Hegde), a young achiever from a Muslim background who is a judge.

Ananthu v/s Nusrath is a journey about how the two end up tying the knot and saying "Khabul hai". The filmmakers have made a good attempt at showing the commonalities and contrasts in both their worlds beautifully.

However, the film focuses more on Ananthu and his side of the story, tilting the balance of the narration. Ananthu's grandma, who is averse to the use of ginger-garlic in food and whose purification "recipe" involves gau-mutra, is a fun watch.

Ananthu's character is often portrayed as white, with the only speck of grey being that he sometimes likes to raise a glass or two.

While the leads are mere pretty faces, whose effort at dancing is visible on their faces, it is the seasoned actors around them — Ravi Shankar, Guruprasad, B Suresha and Dattanna — who shine bright, carrying their characters with ease.

Further, of the songs that find their place in the movie, one suffers the film's fate with stiff dancing, a cheesy dream sequence and cringeworthy graphics, while the other, a Kannada Qawwali, is neatly done and aids the storyline.

Sadly, most of the film's comedy is derived at the expense of its stereotyped characters. But its biggest letdown is the length.

In Ananthu v/s Nusrat, it's the audience who lose their case against time.

Mohamed Ahmed Shariff