Taking to crime to find love

Bangari                             ¬¬¬
Kannada (U/A)
Director: Maachandru
Cast: Yogesh, Ragini Dwivedi, Ramesh Bhat and others

A just-out-of-prison Bangari recalls the first crime of his life — pushing an abusive father into a manhole for good.

Before the audience thinks that the crime was discovered somehow and the boy did his jail time, the film blends into how, even as a college student, Bangari is abused by the system.

Padma, his classmate, appears sympathetic but has actually fallen in love with the fellow. Bangari is also the blue-eyed boy of Dharmanna, who runs a shop in the village. Paddu drives the relationship but Dharmanna cautions him as she is the daughter of Somashekhara who is at loggerheads with Bantswamy over an election ticket.

Things heat up gradually and Bangari is thrashed by Paddu’s relatives. At the same time, Bantswamy is killed. Who makes the most of this situation? Do Bangari and Paddu reunite?

The story has nothing new to offer but the director keeps his flocks and wits together for the most part of the film. A song or two could have been avoided, but perhaps not. For, music director Neel outdoes his previous works and the effort shows. There is an energy in the songs that sustain the story even after they end. Melody and ‘tappanguchi’ness are mixed well. Niranjan Babu’s work is just fine. Ekalavya P Halli’s dialogues are adequate.

Sharath Lohitashwa has a very brief role while the actors playing Ragini’s father, cousin and Yogesh’s friends are good. It is Ramesh Bhat, however, who manages to bring that surprise and disgust to his role, a good one in a long time. Ragini sheds her awkwardness for Bangari and impresses as the bold village girl who doesn’t mind her man chopping off enemies of love. Yogesh’s new found maturity is pleasing. Bangari, however, remains his mother’s pet and of the audience in songs.