'Hebbuli Cut' movie review: Sharp take on social discrimination

There are multiple cases of Dalit atrocities reported everyday. One recent report involved a barber who stabbed a Dalit when he refused to pay in advance for a haircut in Koppala. ‘Hebbuli Cut’ is based on one such incident, and delivers an incisive commentary about the lives of Dalits and Muslims in modern India. 

Set in a village in Raichur district, ‘Hebbuli Cut’ is a coming of age story about Vinaya (Mounesh Nataranga), a Dalit boy who longs for a makeover to impress the girl he likes.

He finds a poster of Kiccha Sudeep’s film ‘Hebbuli’ in her bag. Sudeep sports a distinct hairstyle in it. Vinaya’s friend Rafeeq (a brilliant Punith Shetty), a few years older to him, suggests that it is not where one lives or what one eats that matters. When it comes to impressing girls, he says, one must show a sense of fashion.

The film follows Vinaya’s adventures as he tries to follow his friend’s advice. 

Director Bheemarao P takes a sharp look at social hypocrisy, and offers a peek into the everyday world of young Dalits and Muslims, constantly discriminated against and looked at with suspicion. He also reveals how one is diabolically used to attack the other. 

While the film makes interesting observations, it fails to build a compelling narrative. To its credit, ‘Hebbuli Cut’ is not preachy — it holds a mirror to society and examines how propaganda drives people. Mahadev Hadapad and Uma YG, who play Vinaya’s parents, deliver fantastic performances. 

The Kannada film industry must encourage more such narratives from across the state. The 106-minute film, though not perfect, is definitely a must-watch.