Edakallu Guddada Mele movie review: A touching coming-of-age tale of teen angst

Edakallu Guddada Mele

Kannada (U)

Cast: Nakul Sharma, Swathi Sharma, Ashik Arun, Vivian Surya, Sihi Kahi Chandru, Sumitra, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, Veena Sundar, Padmaja Rao. Dattateraya, Late Chandrashekar, Srinath

Director: Vivian Surya

Rating: ***

Trying to cash in on the titles of successful yesteryear films seems to be the new-normal in Sandalwood. If last week it was Boothayya, this week it is Edakallu Guddada Mele.

What is heartening though is young, debutant director Vivian Surya has come up with a heartwarming narrative of his own, than seeking to replicate Puttanna Kanagal's super-duper 1973 hit which had a different tale and theme in itself.

Unlike Boothayya last week, which was abjectly poor in taste, Edakallu in no way demeans the earlier work. On the other hand, the film stands on its own except for the fact that the title is borrowed. It touches upon a very sensitive and topical theme of a neglected child who craves for her parents' attention, besides the angst of today's teenagers.

More of a coming-of-age story, Edakallu centres around Nandini, a young, bubbly school-going child, who is deprived of her rich parents' love and affection. The girl reflects upon how it would have been, had her parents too, like her friends' folks, showered her with love and care. Her friends at school are her only support system.

The film also touches upon similar juvenile dalliances and the mischief that the four classmates from diverse backgrounds engage in. Even as she revels in the happiness of teen playfulness, an incident sees Nandini's parents pack her off to a boarding school where again loneliness gnaws at her.

She soon meets new people and experiences new things, including meeting up with Vishnu, who is interested in nature photography. What happens to her from there on forms the rest of the saga.

The film, which has been screened on festival circuits like Los Angeles Film Festival, CKF International Film Festival, the UK, and Five Continents Film Festival, where it has won a clutch of awards, is a bitter-sweet tale which makes for an interesting watch with family.

Nakul Sharma and Swathi Sharma come up with a competent show, aided by seasoned performances by veterans.