Sandalwood Movies

In my personal view, “Bangaarada Manushya” transcends the boundaries of cinema and emerges as a soul-stirring masterpiece that has left an indelible mark on my heart and mind. It is my favourite movie of All-Time! From the very moment the film started (After the title card showing the cast and crew) with the song ‘Nagunagutha Nali’, which is my favourite song of all-time. I found myself entranced, pulled into a narrative that seemlessly blended the essence of human existence with profound philosophical wisdom.

At the heart of this cinematic marvel stands the unparalleled talent of Dr. Rajkumar, whose portrayal of Rajeeva breathed life into the character in a way that felt almost transcendent. His performance set a standard in acting that, in my eyes, remains unmatched. Every nuance of emotion, every gesture, every facial expression, spoke volumes, weaving a tale of selflessness and duty that resonated deeply within me. T. N. Balakrishna’s portrayal as Rachutappa and Vajramuni’s portrayal as an antagonist were spectaculor. Actually the entire cast have delivered exceptional performances, adding magic and charm to the storyline.

The brilliance of the script, based on T.K. Rama Rao’s novel of the same name, is undeniable. It captured my attention from the very first scene, which was the song ‘Nagunagutha Nali’ and held it until the climax, illustrating the richness of the narrative, pacing, and the storytelling. Siddalingaiah’s direction was masterful, capturing the essence of the narrative with visionary finesse. The music, especially the unforgettable songs and background score by G.K. Venkatesh, wove a musical tapestry that heightened every emotion, making the film an auditory delight. There was an excellency in which the dialogues, written by Hunsuru Krishnamurthy, added depth to the narrative, making each and every character memorable for me.

What struck me profoundly were the philosophical themes interwoven throughout the movie. The symbolism of Rajeeva walking into the sunset, signifying the impermanence of life and the importance of surrendering to Lord Vishnu, who is the supreme god for me, left me contemplative. The unselfish nature of Rajeeva’s character touched a chord within me, making me reflect on the depth of human goodness.

Furthermore, the film’s exploration of advanced concepts, such as the relationship between village development and national progress, showcased a forward-thinking perspective that resonated deeply with my own beliefs. It elavated the film from a timeless classic to a thought-provoking piece of art, stimulating my mind while simultaneously entertaining my senses.

For me, “Bangaarada Manushya” is not just a movie; it’s an experience. A timeless gem that educates, inspires, and entertains in equal measure. Its multidimensional storytelling, exceptional performances, captivating narration, insightful philosophy, and advanced societal perspectives have left an everlasting impression on me. For those reasons and more, I wholeheartedly join the unanimous chorus of praise, rating it a perfect 10 out of 10 and declaring it a cinematic masterpiece of the highest order.

Rating: 10/10 Verdict: Masterpiece

“Naga Pooje” earns its rightful place as a film which has a narrative that is captivating. Dr. Rajkumar is the heart and soul of the film who delivers an outstanding performance, breathing life into his character with the brilliance that is unmatched by none. It is undoubtedly Dr. Rajkumar who adds depth and authenticity to the story.

The tale is beautifully written, due to which the audience will find the narrative to be engaging. Good execution of the screenplay and storytelling will make the audience to watch the whole film without any difficulty.

All the songs are excellent with very good background score by T. G. Lingappa, along with excellent dialogues adds more charm to the film.

Inspite of being an outstanding film, there is one minor drawback, which is the limited screen time for Dr. Rajkumar in the 2nd Half. The script itself is such that the protagonist has very less screen time in the 2nd half, hence it’s a minor flaw, but it is this minor flaw which obstructs the overall impact the film could have. The audience won’t accept lesser screen time being allocated to Dr. Rajkumar, due to which this film might come as a disappointment to his cult fans or even the general audience.

Inspite of the flaw mentioned above, there is no doubt that this is an outstanding film due to excellent script, outstanding acting, exceptional screenplay and storytelling, along with excellent music makes “Naga Pooje” earn a rating of 9/10, and it is a must-watch for Kannada cinephiles.

Rating: 9/10 Verdict: Outstanding

“Makeup” is a comedy film that tickles the audience’s funny bone with Jaggesh’s signature humor. His character is inspired from Kamal Haasan’s Avvai Shanmughi, but with his comic timing and mannerisms which adds tremendous value to the film making the audience laugh. Jaggesh fans are bound to enjoy this.

The script of “Makeup” is well-structured, and the narrative unfolds smoothly, giving audience the required time to follow the story. The narration and storytelling is engaging, where the director, Singeetam Srinivasa Rao keeps the audience engrossed by ensuring that comic timing and punchlines land effectively. While the overall screenplay is commendable which contributes to the overall entertainment factor. Inspite of the film succesfully delivering on its promise of laughter and entertainment, it does have a few negatives as well. There are some moments where the sequences are bordering on the risque side. These moments might have been intended for humor, while it off-putting especially for family audiences.

There is not even one song in the film which is catchy. They totally lack that appeal, and also the background score by John is mediocre. Although dialogues are good, which brings some respite to the film.

“Makeup” is a success in delivering laughter and entertainment, it is mainly because of Jaggesh’s comic brilliance and the film’s engaging narrative. Inspite of the film doing well on comedy, it’s humor occasionally crosses boundary, and the pathetic musical aspect, both in terms of songs and background score may make it tiresome. If you are a Jaggesh fan who can overlook the film’s negatives in taste and music, it offers a fun-filled ride into the world of humor.

Rating: 7/10 Verdict: Good

“Gowri” is a gem of a film, from outstanding performances to a compelling narrative, this film transcends ordinary boundaries and emerges as a timeless classic! Achieving a perfect rating of 10 out of 10. Dr. Rajkumar delivers an outstanding performance, breathing life into the character of Ramaiah, and his brilliance in acting cannot be matched by anyone. K.S. Ashwath and the actress, Sandhya have also delivered excellent acting performances, adding depth to the narrative.

The film was remade from the 1952 Telugu movie “Daasi” but modifications were made in the script, and it was done brilliantly. Excellent narration and storytelling ensures that the audience are captivated from the 1st scene itself. The flow of events and emotions illustrates a brilliant screenplay.

The songs are excellent, with exceptional background score by G.K. Venkatesh. Even the dialogues are outstanding adding further charm to the film.

“Gowri” has philosophical themes like doubts and anger can ruin a person’s life and it is a film which leaves an enduring impression on the audience. No doubt “Gowri” is a masterpiece which deserves the highest accolades.

Rating: 10/10 Verdict: Masterpiece

“Vaali” is an important film in Sudeep’s career, where he shines in double role playing the characters of Deva, who is deaf and mute and his younger brother Shiva, showing the audience about his acting capabilities.

The film was remade from the 1999 Tamil film of the same name, hence the script does not change, and it is very good. The film excels in narration and storytelling which would keep the audience engaged. The flow of events are continious illustrating the excellent screenplay.

However, the film does have its own share of negatives like the songs are directly copied from the original Tamil version due to which there is no originality, which has dampened the musical appeal of the film. Additionally, the background scrore by Rajesh Ramanath fails to create any impact among the audience as it its pretty poor, and the dialogues are mediocre in comparison to the film’s other strengths.

Sudeep’s exceptional performance along with compelling narrative and strong screenplay, elavates the film. Despite its flaws in music and dialogues, it’s a good watch for any Kannada film enthusiast.

Rating: 7/10 Verdict: Good

"Vikrant Rona" disappoints on multiple fronts, offering a lackluster narrative that feels like a rehashed version of Anup Bhandari's first film, "Rangitaranga" Despite Sudeep's efforts, the film suffers from subpar acting and weak dialogues by the supporting cast. Bhandari's direction lacks grip, resulting in a screenplay that fails to engage the audience effectively.

The storytelling, narration, and songs all fall flat, leaving the audience to long for depth in the film. Even the background score by Ajaneesh Lokanath fails to revive the film, in fact it is ridiculous making it tiring for the audience.

One of the film's most significant weakness lies in its character development which is irritating and poorly executed. Sudeep's character, feels underdeveloped, which will raise questions about the necessity of a star of his caliber in this film.

"Vikrant Rona" is a missed oppurtunity, and its flaws overshadow any qualities it might possess. The audience will wonder about the purpose of its creation. Unless you are an unwavering Sudeep fan, this film offers nothing for you to watch.

Rating: 1/10 Verdict: Trash

I just can't believe that a film like "Hostel Hudugaru Bekagidare" was praised by film enthusiasts. I had planned to watch it in the theater, but somehow due to my work schedule, I could not. When it released on OTT, I started watching it. After 10 mins I was regretting, but somehow with great difficulty I watched 40 minutes. Then I could not take it anymore so I left watching it. Please don't go with the ratings and reviews. I don't know how people even accepted this film maybe because people got some refreshment after watching a huge number of Gangster movies. Kannada Cinema is not doing sensible movies like it was in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. This is a trash in every department right from script to acting performances. Please skip this, instead watch old Kannada classics or some other good film from other languages like English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam etc.

Rating: 0/10 Verdict: Cannot Tolerate

“Shankar Guru” is a film that stands tall in the diaspora of Kannada Cinema. It is a masterpiece! That achieves a perfect rating of 10 out of 10. Obviously it is Dr. Rajkumar who delivers an outstanding performance in a triple role. He effortlessly plays the characters of Rajasekhar, Shankar, and Guru, and breathes life into it.

T. N. Balakrishna’s portrayal as Guru’s foster father was excellent. Vajramuni and Thoogudeepa Srinivas shine in negative roles. The script is beautifully written, and excellent storytelling and narration captivate the audience from the 1st scene until the end. Continious flow of events illustrates the marvellous screenplay. V. Somashekhar’s direction skills are very good where the essence is captured with good vision.

All songs are excellent, with outstanding background score by Upendra Kumar. Even the exceptional dialogues adds further layers of charm to the film.

“Shankar Guru” is a cinematic gem which deserves highest accolades.

Rating: 10/10 Verdict: Masterpiece