School Master

The Vishnuvardhan-Suhasini ‘jodi’ is always fascinating to watch. Most of the films they acted together clicked mainly due to their chemistry. Together with Dinesh Baboo, they gave the memorable ‘Suprabhata’. Viewed in this context, ‘School Master’ is a below average fare, one that has come at an inopportune moment where the star-fan relationship has transformed so much to serve the interests of both. Gone are the days when an actor would strive hard to please his fans and when fans would be objective in appraising their idol’s performance.

To compound matters, a flawed screenplay doesn’t allow much room for the two legends to manoeuvre. Indeed, the entire cast, in terms of available talent, is crippled by the absence of momentum, and of substance. There are occasional brilliant, or say, tear-jerker moments.
But these come about only due to the sincerity in the actors’ performance, and nothing else. Dinesh Baboo, the director, is replaced by a RGV clone who is into manufacturing made-to-order films these days. He begins well, allowing glimpses of what he was when he began wooing Kannada viewers. Using Kalari is just to spice an otherwise normal social drama, but even here, Baboo fails to get it right. Particularly after Kamal Hassan-Manisha Koirala starrer ‘Indian’ brought the ancient martial art some deserved recognition. All the characters, including the wife, daughter and brother-in-law addressing the hero as Master goes beyond ridicule and irritation. Along with other avoidable slip-ups, Vishnuvardhan as the school master offers some climax-time ‘gyaan’ to young students. By then, the screen gets obscured by people standing up and preparing to leave.

‘School Master’ is reduced to a sad commentary on the disconnect between filmmakers and contemporary audience taste.