Fetid and futile farce

Pancharangi
Kannada (U)
Cast:  Diganth, Nidhi Subbaiah, Ramya Barna, Anant Nag, Sunderraj
Director:  Yogaraj Bhat

Silly and soporofic sum up Yogaraj Bhat’s ludicrous and lamentable Pancharangi. A stinging satirical view on life, love, work, kin, marriage, Bhat goes overboard in providing comic streak to his farcical homily.

If only over the top dialogues, with tongue-in-cheek comments were eschewed, Bhat may have had winsome winner on hand. However, that’s not to be. With expectations belied, you suffer the tacky thamasha stoically bemoaning a ruined day.

Wanting to win over today’s yuppie brigade, Bhat spews vitriolic on things traditional, deriding parental angst and anxiety, while extolling as virtue GenX’s wastrel ways and footloose attitudes. Woefully Bhat’s gameplan runs aground given the desultory situations, which, instead of evoking laughter elicit scornful and snidely sniggers. Bhat may have struck a goldmine with Mungaru Male, but has now lost the Midas Touch. While Bhat’s blue-eyed beau Diganth goes through Bharat Kumar like a zombie, veteran Anant Nag is wasted in a whimsical cameo. 

It is Nidhi Subbaiah as perky and pert Ambika who covets your heart. Pancharangi, with even Mano Murthy, who whipped up melodious magic in Mungaru Male faltering, is unbearable, minus vivacious Nidhi, the only saving grace in an otherwise obnoxious entertainer. Touche!