J P Thuminad plays Ashoka
Soon after he is smitten by a girl from his village, Ashoka (J P Thuminad) bungles his way through a series of troubles. In a desperate attempt to extricate himself, he ends up digging himself in deeper, and the changes in his manner leave the entire village terrified. People believe he is possessed by the spirit of a Sulochana from Someshwara. The plot gets another twist when Ashoka learns of the realities faced by Sulochana’s daughter Bhaanu (Sandhya Arekere). Over many conversations with her, the uncouth Ashoka confronts many bitter truths.
Su from So is also Thuminad’s debut as a director. It is rich in humour, and provokes uproarious laughter. At the same time, it offers subtle social commentary about toxic masculinity, sexual exploitation and the shenanigans of the 'gurujis' we blindly follow. Billed as a horror comedy, the film looks at what real life horror looks like. And notably, it never for a moment gets dull and preachy.
At a time when the Kannada film industry is delivering continuous disappointments, Su from So comes as a breath of fresh air. It transports you to the coastal world of chicken sukka, winding bylanes, tiled houses, and the cadences of the Kannada spoken in the Mangaluru region.
What stands out in Su from So is the film’s writing — fresh yet rooted. The comedy feels natural, even if it is slightly exaggerated for effect, but never once does it come across as “too much”.
It also boasts an excellent cast — a brilliant Shaneel Gautham as Ravi Anna, an amusing Prakash Thuminad as Chandranna, and an eccentric Pushparaj Bollar as Bhaava. Extra marks to the music, composed by 21-year-old Sumedh K.
Overall, Su from So is an excellent film with the potential of bringing back full houses and the spirit of community viewing.