Media Release
Mangaluru, May 21: ‘Mookavismitha’, a Kannada feature film directed by Gurudutt Sreekanth and starring our Mangalurean actor director Sandeep Malani in the lead role has got full praise and thumbs up by critics and audience who have watched the film so far. On Sunday the film was shown to audience at a special screening at Cinepolis attended by many celebrities of Mangaluru.
Dr Richard Castelino, award winning Tulu and Konkani film producer and director said, “I was awestruck after watching the film. I just loved the film, the plot, characters and the narration was well done by the debutant director Gurudutt Sreekanth. The look of the 1950s period has been well shown and the little minute details also has been taken care to perfection. A simple film with outstanding performance by our Sandeep Malani is something our Mangalurean should be proud of. I am proud of him and wish him all the success and awards for his performance.”
Vijay Kumar Kodialbail, Tulu stage and film director and now also an actor with Katapadi Kattappa also shared the same happy feeling. He said, “It is unbelievable to see such great performances by all newcomers and our Malani has outshined in his career’s best performance. The film keeps you intrigued till the climax and the suspense element is well explained and the film ends with a wonderful message. I urge everyone to watch the film.”
Konkani comedian Dolla Cutinha aka Dolla Nandigudda who brings humour in his performance said, “There are light moments in the film through the characters and that simplicity has been well shown in the film. Sandeep Malani deserves an award for his wonderful performance.”
The film, based on a play by TP Kailasam titled ‘Tollu Gatti’ has newcomers Pushpa Raghavendra, Krupa Prahalad, Chandra Keerthi, Mavalli Karthik, Shubha Raksha and Vanishree Bhat in important characters of the play Bhagirathi, Nagathe, Maadhu, Puttu, Pathu and Sathu respectively. Malani plays the head of the family Hiriyanna, an egoistic and strict Havyak Brahmin.
Salome Pinto, a former journalist from Mid Day Mumbai and the author of her latest novel ‘Chai and more’, with roots in Mangaluru, who had come down for her vacations watched the film and reviews it: Mookavismitha is a film that has a unique genre. It revolves around the protagonist Hiriyanna, a middle aged Brahmin with an inflated ego. This character is stern to the core. He is a father of two sons and a little daughter born to him at this late stage in life. He has a tinge of sarcasm in his talk. He is a powerful person who calls the shots in his house.
The daughters in law cower in front of him. He has a strong affinity towards his elder son Puttu and turns a blind eye towards his younger son Madhu who is truly the binding character in the family. Madhu’s worth is realized only in the end when a calamity strikes their house.
The move is gripping and extols the virtues of love, peace and tolerance and comes down heavily on greed, anger and frustration that can destroy a person.
The pivotal character Hiriyanna played by Sandeep Malani, is very convincing and powerful. Sandeep is a power house of talent. He shows his mettle in a laudable display of arrogance, greed, power and jealousy. It is his contribution that enable the audience get the feel of the movie and take home the message the director wants the people to. Gurudutt is efficient in getting the cast deliver. The music by Chinmaya is melodious and soothing and one craves for such music in today’s times.
A film certainly worth a view.
Mookavismitha is running at PVR at 12.40 pm, Cinepolis at 4.35 pm and Big Cinemas at 5.30 pm.