Sampath Maitreya (left) and Rangayana Raghu in ‘Moorane Krishnappa’ | Photo credit: Anand Audio/YouTube
Some comedy movies get misunderstood, many are downright terrible, and while the actors on screen are having a great time, the people watching them are left scratching their heads wondering what’s so humorous. Naveen Narayanaghatty Moorane Krishnappa is a fun film that never takes the viewer for granted. Aided by a controlled script and actors with great comic timing, this quirky, engaging comedy is a welcome change in the Kannada film industry that often stereotypes rural stories.
Veeranna (Rangayana Raghu), the head of the gram panchayat in a village near Anekal taluk, will contest the elections again. His trick to get votes is to invite a celebrity to the inauguration of a newly built temple in the village. However, the plan fails when a week before the event, a notable comedian who was supposed to be present at the inauguration dies of a heart attack.
Moorane Krishnappa (Kannada)
Director: Naveen Narayanaghatta
To throw: Rangayana Raghu, Sampath Maitreya, Tukali Santhosh, Sripriya and Uggram Manju
Action time: 140 minutes
Plot: The head of the panchayat wants to invite a notable person to the inauguration of the newly built temple. When the Prime Minister himself confirms his presence, the villagers are delighted. Can CM really do it?
Helpless, Veeranna seeks support from Krishnappa (Sampath Maitreya), a math teacher in a government school. To everyone’s surprise, Krishnappa promises to bring the state’s chief minister to the event after talking to his influential friend from Bengaluru. The series of events that unfold as people anxiously await CM make for a breezy, wildly entertaining first half.
Sampath Maitreya and Tukali Santhosh in ‘Moorane Krishnappa’ | Photo credit: Special Arrangement
The characters in the film speak and act as if they belonged to the village (perhaps some of them are locals), which emphasizes the rural nature of the story; neither the dialect nor the silly but endearing episodes seem out of place. The comedy is so consistent Moorane Krishnappa which we quickly realize after two stern scenes, the third one will be a massive laugh. The funeral scene is turned upside down, creating some hilarious moments, while Veeranna’s training session in which she learns how to greet the Prime Minister is awe-inspiring. Even a few other incidental scenes, included merely to enhance the film’s humor quotient, were written with great wit.
The film’s charisma also lies in its bizarre ideas. Throughout the film, we hear the hilarious voice of one of the people who supported Veeranna, whom Veeranna often pushes aside. Ugramm Manju plays Veeranna’s candidate in the elections, but he is too busy sleeping with various women with whom he finds it tough to communicate as they do not speak Kannada. Sampath, playing an unassertive and sincere man who finally finds redemption, makes you root for him. Meanwhile, Rangayana Raghu has perfect control over her dialect, dialogue and mannerisms as she conducts a masterclass in acting.
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The skillfully written love story between Krishnappa and Veeranna’s daughter (Sripriya with a balanced performance) provides a good balance to this comedy-packed plot. The poignant moments between the couple continue with the lovely soundtrack of Anand Rajavikram and Suprith Sharma. Yogi’s lavish cinematography enhances the mood of the film and never once makes us think of the film’s modest budget.
Moorane Krishnappa becomes a bit predictable in the second half and presenting Bengaluru through the eyes of an outsider (Krishnappa) could have been more practical. Krishnappa comes to Bengaluru with few assumptions and is not willing to study or show curiosity to understand the massive city. The film fights for good governance, and despite a slight tonal shift in message, we give up Moorane Krishnappa it’s a movie with a lot of heart.
Moorane Krishnappa is currently showing in theaters
