Movie: Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati-Side B
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: Paramvah Pictures, People Media Factory
Cast: Rakshit Shetty, Rukmini Vasanth, Chaitra, J Achar, Achyutha Kumar, Ramesh Indira, Gopal Krishna Deshpande and others.
Music: Charan Raj
DOP: AdvaithaGurumurthy
Editor: Vijay Velukutty
Production Designer: UllasHydur
Producer: Rakshit Shetty
Written and Directed by: Hemanth M Rao
Release Date: Nov 17, 2023
After garnering a favorable response for the initial segment titled Side-A, today marks the theatrical release of Side-B.
Let's explore what unfolds in this installment.
Story:
The tale commences amidst the 2020-21 corona pandemic, with the protagonist Manu (Rakshit Shetty) being released from jail.
Despite the challenges, his unwavering love for Priya (Rukmini) compels him to embark on a quest to find her. Along the way, he encounters Surabhi (Chaitra), a prostitute, and forms an unexpected companionship.
As Manu delves into Priya's life, he discovers she is married and has a son. Persistently observing her daily existence, he becomes convinced that she is not content in her marriage.
Operating in the shadows, Manu intricately navigates her life, resulting in a compelling emotional narrative.
The film's gripping element lies in Manu's pursuit of revenge against the influential individuals responsible for his imprisonment. Poetic justice is ultimately served. The crux of the story revolves around the resolution of Manu and Priya's love life.
Will Manu and Priya reunite in the end? This question forms the heart of the film's narrative.
Artistes’ Performances:
Rakshit Shetty delivers a commendable performance in this follow-up. In the initial segment, he portrayed a victim, but in this installment, he embodies a goal-driven, vengeance-seeking character with a more commercially oriented demeanor. However, there are moments when his portrayal becomes monotonous, with the repetitive cassette playing and his emotional reactions to the voice of Priya, occasionally bordering on dullness.
Rukhmini Vasanth has a relatively subdued role in comparison to the first part. In this installment, her husband's character carries more weight and drama. Even the child actor portraying Priya's son delivers a commendable performance.
Veteran actor Achyut Kumar is present in a limited capacity in this Side-B. Meanwhile, Ramesh Indira, portraying a don in jail, resurfaces to continue his malevolent performance. He is impressive.
Technical Excellence:
Cinematographer Advaitha Gurumurthy once again excels, skillfully capturing the melancholic undertones of the narrative.
The story gains added depth through Charan Raj's masterful composition of the score. The montage songs prove to be both enjoyable and captivating, while the background score stands out.
The production design is flawlessly executed, contributing to the overall perfection of the film. The dialogue, while acceptable, doesn't particularly stand out.
Highlights:
The compelling second half
Intense conflict with the antagonist
Chaitra's portrayal
Drawbacks:
Slow-paced narration
Dull at parts
Profound melancholy
Analysis:
In the dubbed rendition of the Kannada film "Sapta Sagaradaache Ello- Side B," titled "Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati-Side-B," a pivotal element in the narrative involves a cassette tape recorder that serves as a vital link between the lovers.
As common knowledge dictates, every cassette comprises a Side A and a Side B. This particular film represents Side B, with Side A having already hit the screens and garnered acclaim from a niche audience fond of unhurried, poetic, melancholic love stories.
This marks the segment where the main character comes out from the jail upon release, fueled by an unwavering love and longing for his romantic interest, Priya. In this part, his character unfolds with dual facets — one as an enduring lover and the other as a seeker of revenge, motivated not merely by ego gratification but for a purpose.
The characters previously introduced return to deliver captivating performances in a compelling fashion, leaving a lasting impact on the audience. However, the addition of the character Surabhi brings substantial value to this installment. Nonetheless, her emotional portrayal seems muddled, and there are instances where the director emphasizes her character's emotions in a way that lacks conviction. In these moments, the depiction appears contrived rather than stemming from intelligent writing.
The justification for the punishment given to the character played by Achyuta Kumar is intriguing and satisfying.
Despite some slight drawbacks, like a slow pace, when compared with Side-A, "Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati-Side B" proves to be a commendable film.
Director Hemanth Rao adeptly elicits genuinely authentic performances again and unfolds the narrative in a realistic fashion, maintaining our engagement throughout. The storyline possesses a distinctive beauty and melancholic tone that evokes deep emotions by the conclusion.
Overall, this serves as a fitting culmination to the initial installment, with the potential to linger in the hearts of those tender hearts who appreciate poignant and melancholic poetic films. It is like an intense novel with the emotional writing of the bygone era that was brought on to the big screen.
Bottom line: Steady But Slow