‘Kaalapatthar’ movie review: An interesting take on the politics of statues

Vikky Varun in ‘Kaalapatthar’.
| Picture Credit score: A2 Movies/YouTube

In a touching scene in Kaalapatthar, an outdated girl complains concerning the lack of water in her place. She provides a actuality verify to the village chief, who’s decked up for the Independence Day celebration, unaware of the problems confronted by the folks of Moodalapalya. Shankar (Vikky Varun), a Border Safety Pressure (BSF) jawan, watches the scene with a responsible face. He is aware of that the foundation reason for all the issues confronted by his people is his statue, which has change into the speaking level of the village. 

Political leaders get slammed for constructing statues and distracting folks’s consideration from vital issues. Leaders get questioned in the event that they want to preserve a selected group of individuals completely happy by spending lakhs on statues, at the same time as they ignore the plight of underprevileged folks.

Varun, who additionally has directed the movie and co-written the screenplay with D Satya Prakash and Raghu Nandan, takes up this heavy topic and makes it palatable for viewers by setting the story in opposition to a rural backdrop and portraying the realities of such a milieu. Naturalistic performances and earthy dialogues enhances the movie’s flavour.

In Kaalapatthar, the village chief, pressurised by the media, declares a statue of Shankara. On the identical time, the MLA (Rajesh Nataranga) proudly says in a speech that he would have constructed a taller statue if folks had mentioned the plan with him. When determined folks flip to the statue searching for hope, even God turns envious because the temple priest recommends an alteration to the statue. Amid folks in energy plotting private beneficial properties, the locals get denied fundamental services comparable to water, bus service, and correct roads.

A nonetheless from ‘Kaalapatthar’.
| Picture Credit score:
A2 Movies/YouTube

So why did the statue get erected within the first place? Shankara, who’s assigned the obligation of a prepare dinner on the BSF, cuts greens as an alternative of firing bullets in a battle. Again in his hometown, folks presume him to be toiling onerous on the battlefield, however Shankara will get confined to the kitchen. Every thing modifications when he showcases his courageous aspect by singlehandedly combating males from the enemy camp. Shankara turns into a nationwide sensation, a lot in order that his statue will get constructed.

Hassle begins when Shankara begins to expertise the issues that occur to the statue. As an illustration, when the statue will get soaked in rain, Shankara will get drenched as his roof leaks. When this freakish sample repeats too usually, he wonders if it’s a mere coincidence, his phantasm, or if there’s something actually fishy about it. 

The movie takes a pleasant flip when the protagonist turns gray. A egocentric Shankara does all the pieces to guard the statue as a result of he believes his life relies on it. A soldier, perceived as fearless, is diminished to a tepid man by a dull statue constructed with black stones (Kaalapatthar in Hindi and therefore the title).

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The movie jumps from one battle to a different and not using a break, and also you get the sensation that it ends and not using a bang. The transitions within the screenplay appear too fast, giving us much less time to course of the twists within the film. But, the movie’s story, as an entire, is rock strong. And the director in Varun is accountable for executing the vital scenes. Anoop Seelin deserves particular credit score as his trendy rating with distinctive beats fantastically displays the everydayness of a village.

We dwell in a time when highly effective folks construct their very own statues when they’re alive. Kaalapatthar tries to say that at the same time as they benefit from the consideration and accolades, they need to not overlook their duties. Statues have to be an expression of respect and never an excuse to use the harmless, says the movie.

Kaalapatthar is at present working in theatres