Review of Mungaru Male
Well, I finally saw the movie. I went in with a lot of cynicism, with lot of doubts. Primarily I don't like it when people hype things saying its different. I believe that everything is a repeat including Maggi hot and sweet tomato sauce.
The initial few scenes were well, not different. The humor was present, but not different from his comedy time stuff. What was different was the cinematographic treatment. I've seen a good lot of photography these days, but this movie is amongst one of the best. The story starts in a very light manner, gets stronger over time. The actor Ganesh has only one face and only one tone. Its his natural tone and expression and suits the role, but that's not acting. If only Ganesh could put on a few more expressions, if only he could talk with the right intonations. Fortunately for Ganesh, in Kannada films these things don't really matter. The first half of the movie is well paced with humor or its pretensions occupying the majority of the script. The songs blend in well and are excellently composed and are very good to listen to. I personally think they are better than most Hindi movie songs. Ganesh can't dance also. The locations are very good. The heroine is passable, thankfully she's not challenged by the role.
My sister, brother in law and mother and I were all having an average expression on their faces in the interval. At the end of the first half, I felt I was wasting my time on such a story. But at the end of the movie, I felt it was a very good script. The script moves at an even pace. The sense of expectation of an ending lingers long into the second half. It is this sense that makes the pacing of the movie great. IMHO, the ending, the pacing and the cinematography are the best parts of this movie. The hero's character develops to be capable of being a "hrudayavantha" in the second half. All the pieces don't really tie in well, so you keep expecting something to happen.
In a lot of ways, this movie is not different, but it is made different thanks to the treatment. Pacing is something I always admire, I like stuff where the pacing is such that your brain is running towards various possibilities and just when its about to get distracted from thinking on the possibilities, the story comes up with an answer. It should be slow enough to allow you to think/feel, but not too slow to allow you to get distracted. It should also not vary too much through the movie. This movie's pacing is something that I liked, considering the whole story is set in a matter of 5-10 days.
The ending is a very daring ending and its like the looks of a Maruti Swift, you either love it or hate it. I liked it a lot.
The icing on the cake though is the cinematography. Malnad in mungaru male makes an excellent subject to be shot. I would normally assume that with such a subject, you don't need extra ordinary skills. But that's been disproved in this movie. The right kind of focus, framing, settings combine together in most shots. Jog falls has always been a fascination for me and I strongly believe no photography can capture the essence. But this one comes closer than most attempts before. I will still maintain that the essence has still not been captured. It is obvious that the work is done with passion. I felt that this pair of directors/cinematographer should sit together and come up with documentaries on all Karnataka tourism spots. That would be a tremendous boost.
Overall, for the Kannada movie industry, I felt this movie is very good. It brings in a new set of audience - the non Kannada, the metro, the middle class Kannadiga urban. It integrates them with the rural audience. It has deviated from the "Long" movies and has beaten all records. It has been done outside of the clutches of both the Telugu/Tamil industry. If only the movie had a better hero/heroine, it would have been incomparable. Its no Cannes film festival award winner, yet it stands to be different from the other movies.
Apparently the movie has done quite a lot and is seen as the best success so far. Remake rights have been bought in Telugu, Hindi and Tamil. I would recommend it for everyone, not just for viewing but also for helping the Kannada film industry choose the right path over the "Long" films.
The initial few scenes were well, not different. The humor was present, but not different from his comedy time stuff. What was different was the cinematographic treatment. I've seen a good lot of photography these days, but this movie is amongst one of the best. The story starts in a very light manner, gets stronger over time. The actor Ganesh has only one face and only one tone. Its his natural tone and expression and suits the role, but that's not acting. If only Ganesh could put on a few more expressions, if only he could talk with the right intonations. Fortunately for Ganesh, in Kannada films these things don't really matter. The first half of the movie is well paced with humor or its pretensions occupying the majority of the script. The songs blend in well and are excellently composed and are very good to listen to. I personally think they are better than most Hindi movie songs. Ganesh can't dance also. The locations are very good. The heroine is passable, thankfully she's not challenged by the role.
My sister, brother in law and mother and I were all having an average expression on their faces in the interval. At the end of the first half, I felt I was wasting my time on such a story. But at the end of the movie, I felt it was a very good script. The script moves at an even pace. The sense of expectation of an ending lingers long into the second half. It is this sense that makes the pacing of the movie great. IMHO, the ending, the pacing and the cinematography are the best parts of this movie. The hero's character develops to be capable of being a "hrudayavantha" in the second half. All the pieces don't really tie in well, so you keep expecting something to happen.
In a lot of ways, this movie is not different, but it is made different thanks to the treatment. Pacing is something I always admire, I like stuff where the pacing is such that your brain is running towards various possibilities and just when its about to get distracted from thinking on the possibilities, the story comes up with an answer. It should be slow enough to allow you to think/feel, but not too slow to allow you to get distracted. It should also not vary too much through the movie. This movie's pacing is something that I liked, considering the whole story is set in a matter of 5-10 days.
The ending is a very daring ending and its like the looks of a Maruti Swift, you either love it or hate it. I liked it a lot.
The icing on the cake though is the cinematography. Malnad in mungaru male makes an excellent subject to be shot. I would normally assume that with such a subject, you don't need extra ordinary skills. But that's been disproved in this movie. The right kind of focus, framing, settings combine together in most shots. Jog falls has always been a fascination for me and I strongly believe no photography can capture the essence. But this one comes closer than most attempts before. I will still maintain that the essence has still not been captured. It is obvious that the work is done with passion. I felt that this pair of directors/cinematographer should sit together and come up with documentaries on all Karnataka tourism spots. That would be a tremendous boost.
Overall, for the Kannada movie industry, I felt this movie is very good. It brings in a new set of audience - the non Kannada, the metro, the middle class Kannadiga urban. It integrates them with the rural audience. It has deviated from the "Long" movies and has beaten all records. It has been done outside of the clutches of both the Telugu/Tamil industry. If only the movie had a better hero/heroine, it would have been incomparable. Its no Cannes film festival award winner, yet it stands to be different from the other movies.
Apparently the movie has done quite a lot and is seen as the best success so far. Remake rights have been bought in Telugu, Hindi and Tamil. I would recommend it for everyone, not just for viewing but also for helping the Kannada film industry choose the right path over the "Long" films.
posted by Vinay Murthy at 1:44 AM
5 Comments:
One of the other aspects of the movie I liked was the title. Typically, in the times when most movie are christened by brain dead people, someone has given this one a good thought. I mean, imagine movies with names like: 'bakra', 'Bhupathi', 'Kiccha', 'Huccha'... they are absolute no brainers.
'Mungaaru Male', is typically characterized by a sudden downpour and strong gusty winds which don't last too long. In the movie the love creates a similar effect in the hero's life - his love interest is suddenly sparked in front of a mall and following a bold love affair, ends in the hero's 'supreme' sacrifice.
But above all that, there is one thing for which it stands out - its a run-of-the-mill kannada movie, which is worth a watch. Considering how rare that is these days, I think it is a great achievement!!
Being a non-Kannadiga, but living in Karnatka for the past 25 years, Mungaru Malai was the first Kannada Movie ever seen by me. Tempted by the reviews given by various friends, I went to see the Movie. My efforts were worth rewarding for eyes,ears, heart and soul.
The credit goes to the Director for one and only reason - he teaches quiet a bit of moral values to our modern day Lovers - who, too, fall in love at first sight. To value the love and affection of the elders, both the Lovers sacrifice their love.
The Songs, Photography, Locations, the performance of each and every character - a treat to watch. Of course, Ganesh, the Hero, is the pillar and he really stands tall above all. DON'T MISS IT.
Dayanithi, Bangalore
hi this is vishwanath from hydrabad but my native is bangalore...
i rarely use to watch kannada movies(only PREM directed movies)... but this time its YOGIIIIII who really hit me with the title track of mMUNGARU MALE.... the movie is worth watching hundred times because of the LOCATION, SONGS, and ofcourse the DIALOGUES..... so what u waiting for go and watch the movie today...
Vishwanath
Hyderabad..
hi this is vishwanath from hydrabad but my native is bangalore...
i rarely use to watch kannada movies(only PREM directed movies)... but this time its YOGIIIIII who really hit me with the title track of mMUNGARU MALE.... the movie is worth watching hundred times because of the LOCATION, SONGS, and ofcourse the DIALOGUES..... so what u waiting for go and watch the movie today...
hi this is vishwanath from hydrabad but my native is bangalore...
i rarely use to watch kannada movies(only PREM directed movies)... but this time its YOGIIIIII who really hit me with the title track of mMUNGARU MALE.... the movie is worth watching hundred times because of the LOCATION, SONGS, and ofcourse the DIALOGUES..... so what u waiting for go and watch the movie today...
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