Darshan brings mass fighter look to sociologic story back drop.
The movie “Kaatera” is among the few in a landscape predominantly characterized by mass formulaic hero films. This film, directed by Tharun Kishore Sudhir, portrays Challenging Star Darshan in a role emphasizing his acting talent rather than his larger-than-life persona.
Plot Summary:
Suspense sets in right after 107 skulls are discovered at the beginning of “Kaatera.” Speaking to a police constable (Achyuth Kumar), Darshan reveals his journey and takes us to the people of Bienamahalli. The storyline is told through Kaatera’s eyes as he becomes a blacksmith who becomes an embodiment of hope amidst the oppressive rule by feudal lords Devaraya (Jagapathi Babu) and Kaalegowda (Vinod Alva).
Against the backdrop of Devaraj Urs’ tenure and the 1974 land reform rights movement, this movie looks at the problems faced by farmers as well as social injustices they encounter. Prabhavathi (Aradhana), an educated woman, falls for Kaatera’s unwavering honesty and courage hence stands with him while they challenge tyrannical landlords.
Performance:
Darshan gives an outstanding performance, in which he displays kaatera’s depth and intensity. He is able to create two characters-one as a young person with a lot of spirit and another as an old man who has experienced many things in his life, showing that he can play different roles. Aradhana brings her first confident and strong performance to the screen. The inclusion of actors such as Achyuth Kumar, Jagapathi Babu, and Kumar Govind adds weight to the narrative.
Direction and Cinematography:
Tharun Kishore Sudhir intelligently avoids cliches associated with mass movies. For instance it took almost forty minutes for the first violent exchange between the two heroes which was meant to elongate building up tension before action takes place instantly. The nostalgia that S.Raj imparts through his cinematography is very much appealing while V.Harikrishna’s music scores blend well with this storyline.
Themes and Execution:
More than being an action flick “Kaatera” is a social commentary on feudalism, agrarian unrests as well as caste discrimination. This aspect is so embedded into the screenplay written by Jadeshaa K Hampi that it flows naturally in the story line of Kaatera movie. Maasthi built amazing dialogues for this film whereas Ram-Laxman choreographed sequences full of adrenalin pumped yet conveying messages essential to both characters in them.