Kanasemba Kudureyaneri

Dreams do change fortunes

Dreams are like the wilful horse which takes its rider on a merry roller-coaster ride. The rider must be prepared to fall, pick himself up and fall again before eventually mastering the beast. Kasaravalli’s adaptation of Amaresh Nugadoni’s “Savaari” is a film connoisseur’s delight.

Kanasemba Kudureyaneri speaks of the a couple Irya (Biradar) and Rudri (Umashri) who, like most in the village, eke out a living from the harsh countryside plagued by vagaries of monsoon. Irya is blissfully ignorant of the scorn he evokes in the villagers over what they perceive is idle living. But Irya is the village grave-digger. He is also by custom, the herald of the arrival of the Siddha, the guardian of graveyards, whose arrival means straight heaven to souls departing at the same time.

A simple incident in the course of two days changes the couple’s perspective forever, taking with it the innocence inherent in complete belief or faith. There is the village headman Hiregowda who is sick, living in his palatial mansion, his steward Matadayya, his city-dwelling son Shivanna and his family. Then there is also Bandeppa, a pragmatic farmer who is not keen on parting with his land to the ‘factory people’ to make a quick buck, with Budan, the buyer of his produce.

Choosing to narrate his story by visiting and revisiting incidents back and forth, Kasaravalli allows viewers to observe the story from different angles to build up their own conclusions. Kanasemba... is a test of one’s faith in one’s capabilities. Best of all, Kanasemba... is another fine classroom lesson on filmmaking, including extracting of the best from the actors.

To say anything else would render the whole exercise incomplete...