The one personality who was in the process of taking Kannada cinema to a higher level was Shankar Nag. He was one of those rare people who was adored by the public and respected by his colleagues. The man was in a tearing hurry probably having a prem onition that death was awaiting him round the corner. His brain was ever bursting with ideas even while swiftly executing the backlog. Articulate, warm and intelligent, Shankar’s films reflected his sense of aesthetics. He made you think even while never deviating from the popular format and making sure you were entertained with lilting music and pleasant photography.
Take “Accident” for instance. It was way ahead of its times. The plot was about the son of a minister, driving in an inebriated state and running over slum-dwellers sleeping on the sidewalk and then trying to walk away scot-free. Recollect how many rich brats have done this in the recent past. He was not a great actor by any standards but had an undeniable charm, a casual style which endeared him to the masses. I remember Kamal Hassan telling me he had recommended Shankar for a role in “Utsav” which he could not do. These ramblings about one of my favourite personalities is because two films being made by talented filmmakers like Ramesh and AMR Ramesh are using the titles “Accident” and “Minchina Ota” respectively. The plots are not the same. While the former is a murder mystery, the latter is a thriller. The directors have to remember they will be watched by Shankar’s restless spirit.
The dust has settled. S. Narayan may have won the battle of wits and had his way but has lost it at the box-office. “Chanda”, terribly made like most of his other offerings is a dud. The fact is that nobody has gained from this episode. Vijay has to claw his way back with two of his releases after “Duniya” failing. People are already accusing him of doing the same thing over and over. Vijay has to realise that he’s only as good as his last release. Narayan has humiliated Ambarish by not heeding his unofficial diktat. Would this have happened if Raj Kumar was alive? Every family does need an authoritative patriarch I suppose.
A film that has captured the hearts of teenagers and elders alike, without making much noise is young Shekar Kammula’s “Happy Days”. The only stars in the film are the superb story and screenplay. It’s about the angst, uncertainties, infatuation and dreams of a group of teenagers. Each of the characters gets to share equal screen space. There’s not a single scene where things are over done. The performances by newcomers are to be seen to be believed. The trepidation about taking the right decisions is brilliantly brought out. It’s the best film I’ve seen in recent times. While filmmakers are running behind over-rated stars here’s someone who believes in the inherent strength of his screenplay. “I’m off to the US for ten days. The film is the biggest grosser amongst Telugu films ever there,” says a cool Shekar. His other films are “Godavari” and “Anand” both starring the lovely Kamalinee Mukherjee. “I make one film a year so I haven’t even thought about my next film,” says the still unassuming director. It’s rumoured that top stars like Mahesh Babu are after him to direct a film. If you want a dose of nostalgia about the best days of your life rush to the nearest theatre showing “Happy Days”. It’s popular cinema at its best.
S. SHIVA KUMAR
