Rangitaranga

Is it a horror flick, yes it is. Is it a thriller, omg yes it is. Is it dark triad, hell yeah! Is it a movie one would discuss with people who have watched it too, of course yes.

Is it a Kannada movie, OH MY GOD, OF COURSE, YES IT IS, HELL YEAH!

Amidst few swamake movies, some of them failed because the way it was marketed for audience was wrong (Bahuparaak), there are good ones that stay in your heart (SOLS), some amazing ones that stay in your mind (Lucia), very few extraordinary ones you want to watch again (UlidavaruKandanthe) and then there are 0.01% of unexpected flicks that create huge noise, post release and survive/fare well due to “word of mouth” publicity – that’s “Rangitaranga” for you.

It’s a new wave in Sandalwood, which usually stinks of reckless remakes, hopeless ego and ‘nanginta-yaaru-kammi’ stardom. Slowly (running houseful in the weekdays at unusual time slots), the movie and the team have made a place in audience’s discussion over a cup of tea.

The first positive from Rangitaranga is AnupBhandari, the man who dons a lot of roles – the movie is written, directed by him and he debuts as a music director, lyricist and he sings as well. I remember Uppi and Guruprasad with this approach; Anup excels in each and every field. The story is slow for the first half and has ‘swalpa-jastine’ over-dramatic scenes but second half has terrific pace that I did not dare tweet amidst the movie, one small attention diversion and one loses part of the plot. The story, combined with an amazing screenplay asks the viewer to be very attentive.

The horror brings out the timid in you; too many not consumed popcorn tubs were spilled over the movie hall (good job!!),  it’s a visual treat – thanks to the D.O.P, forget the rain/falls/water, tulu-naadu is captured brilliantly. Not very impressed with the underwater shoot, I felt it was too much chaos and it did not convey what it had to (actually what?). 

Casting was the first win to the team, everyone has done exceptionally well for their debut movie and Saikumar, wonder on what basis Anup dreamt that he could perform this amazing role that is opposite to his forte.

Kareyole track haunts me so much that I listen to it all day and Anup told me that the song apart from having just Ka=kaara words, also narrates you the entire plot; my favourite line “KshenavellaKrutakaKatheyalliKaleyodaKalithole”and boy-o-boy Ajuneesh is indeed in some other level with the background music (the bit in the climax when heroine walks away from hero, sob sob music a stealer). It would be a sin if the “Denanna/GuddadaBhoota” music was touched and turned out to be crap, but then whoa, brain froze re-touch has happened to the song. Nirup, welcome to Sandalwood, wishing your talent is castoff the right way in the future.

Special mention to guy who played Angaara, anavashyakavaagiakasmaathaagi yen-yenoaago character, but that stern look in three frames of the movie – haha, too good to be playing this one dude.

Thank you team “Rangitaranga” for an amazing movie, more power to you guys. I rode the new wave, will you #RideTheNewWave ???