Madana Kannada Movie

Feature Film | 2006
Critics:
Audience:
Dec 3, 2006 By RGV


Jai Jagadish has already proved his mettle as an actor and a producer. Though he entered the Kannada film industry as a hero, he later transformed himself as a an actor essaying a variety of roles. Then he also became a producer making some good films which had good commercial values and also done aesthetically. Therefore when he decided to launch himself as a film director there were some expectations that he would deliver. But unfortunately his first directorial film "Madana" belies all these expectations.


This is certainly not a film to be made by a talented person who proudly says he is a Sishya of Late Puttanna Kanagal, who was certainly the best director of the Kannada film industry. Puttanna made films based on the best literary works and was against the remakes. But "Madana" is a remake of Tamil Hit ‘Manmathan' ghost directed by Actor Silambarasan.



"Manmathan" was certainly not a great film either, Thirsting for success, Simbu had opted for a story which had sex and infidelity in the backdrop, had some titillating sequences and dance sequences with some sexy item number girls from Mumbai. To be fair to the film, it had some extremely competent technical values which provided some value addition to the product. The original Tamil film's story was nothing new and it was a rehash of Bharathiraja's earlier film "Sigappu Rojagal' with Kamal Hassan which was later done in Hindi as "Red Rose' with Rajesh Khanna.


Jai Jagadish should have been careful in selecting the right subject for his debut directorial venture and should have opted for a subject which can have a larger acceptance from the audience.


Coming back to the film "Madana" is a big yawn from scene one. The film moves in snail's pace in the entire first half and only the flash back episode in the second half of the film is interesting.


Yuvan Shankar Raja's original music has been used in the movie. Jai Jagadish faithfully follows the narrative part of the original film. In these days of DVD revolution, it is natural that successful non Kannada films would have been seen by most film buffs in Karnataka. Therefore unless a remake film is well made, it will lose sheen among the audience.


‘Madana" revolves around the story of two brothers Madana and Putta who are diametrically opposite to each other in attitude and behavioral patterns. Madana is ambitious and wants to achieve something in life. Putta is languishing in his village and Madana takes him out of the village to get him educated. In his college he is ditched by a girl who two time with him. An enraged Putta kills his girlfriend and her lover while they are in the bedroom. Putta tells his brother that he wants to take revenge on crooked woman who double cross their lovers. Then there will be a series of murders and rape. Madana is hauled up and then he reveals that his brother is behind the crimes. What happens later forms the climax.


Aditya has done his best to salvage the film by delivering a good performance in the role of Putta. Delhi based girl Sameeksha .fails to impress in her first Kannada film.


Saaniya who is seen in a bold role is better than Sameeksha. All the other artists have performed adequately. Technically the Kannada film does not match the brilliance of the Tamil film. The song sequences also lack the color of the original.


"Madana" is a below par run of the mill film which is lost from the first scene.


RGV

   

MOVIE REVIEWS