Redemption journey not easy

Andhar Bahar
Kannada (U/A) ¬¬¬
Director: Phaneesh S
Ramnathpura
Cast: Shivarajkumar, Parvathi and others

Good and evil are two faces of the same coin. More importantly, they reside in perfect harmony within an individual creating mayhem and chaos whenever required. Circumstances help man realise his true worth, but at what cost?

Another director debuts with Shivanna-starrer Andhar Bahar. Phaneesh S Ramnathpura brings forth human drama set amidst the treacherous mind-alleys of the underworld. Andhar Bahar is about a don’s transformation from a ruthless killer to a man with scruples who finally embarks upon a quest for redemption. His journey thither is riddled with bombs — of the heart-wrenching type. When he finally scales the unsurmountable heights, it is a moment that every man/woman in the audience can identify with and ponder within.

But yes, only if one has the patience and empathy. For, this director too goes overboard, his shy confusions threatening to derail the screenplay into just split-spliced images. These confusions project lack of cohesion and planting impatience and to a certain extent, disappointment in the viewer.

Time till interval is fraught with the risk of people vanishing from the hall. What holds them all is the underlying theme and measured performances by the lead pair, leaving very little room for error. Post-interval, there’s another bit of bhaag-daud and maar-peet but violence takes a backseat as expected and stronger emotions take charge, pulling an inexperienced director’s undue haste along.

Parvathi initially appears miscast opposite Shivanna, her youthful looks belying the seriousness her role demands. But the actress delivers and how.

Though it is Shivanna who bags most of the appreciation with a fine performance, Parvathi provides the frail, yet firm anchor to all of her hero’s angst, helplessness and rage — complementing each other perfectly. Acting by Chaswa of Sidhlingu fame goes up a few notches. Srinath and Arundhati Nag are miscast — the duo has precious little to do and the “Jogi” chemistry fails to work between Shivanna and Arundhati.

Shekhar Chandra’s camera has done a good job while Vijay Prakash too makes a creditable debut as composer. M S Ramesh’s dialogues, in a fresh departure, don’t sound mass-manufactured but simply effective. Phaneesh stumbles in his song placement and trimming half hour’s worth of the film won’t harm the film’s prospects.

Andhar Bahar offers a peek into the conflict and subsequent turmoil inside a soul which influences all our actions. A must-watch for Shivanna, and sensible film, fans.