'Shanubhogara Magalu' movie review: Decent historical set in Tipu’s times

At a time when films with mindless violence and crass comedy rule the roost, Kodlu Ramakrishna’s ‘Shanubhogara Magalu’ comes as a whiff of fresh air. Known for emotive social dramas and literary adaptations, Ramakrishna has now taken on the historical fiction ‘Shanubhogara Magalu’, written by Bhagya Krishnamurthy.

A seasoned hand, he does full justice to Bhagya’s eponymous fictional work with his signature style. He captivates the audience with the tale of a simple, devout woman who turns into a fierce rebel against the British.

Set during the reign of Tipu Sultan in the erstwhile Mysuru region, Ramakrishna shows how British officials, spread a reign of terror in the region by looting temples and raping young women.

Sharavathi is a local priest’s daughter-in-law. She joins her brother-in-law Vittala and his youth brigade who have rebelled against the British.

During a brief temple visit, Tipu Sultan (Kishore Kumar in a cameo) is smitten by her beauty. She is soon kidnapped. A swirl of events leads to the death of Vittala and the youth brigade. To save her people, a coy Sharavathi soon turns into a sagacious fighter in revolt against the British. This forms the fulcrum of ‘Shanubhogara Magalu’.

Ragini Prajwal plays Sharavathi in the tailored titular role. Veterans like Padma Vasanthi, Ramesh Bhat and Sudha Belawadi play a good supporting cast. At a time when historical and pre-Independence stories are a rarity in Kannada, Kodlu Ramakrishna manages to keep the audiences engaged. To conclude, it’s a wholesome entertainer.