BANGALORE: Debutante director M M Deepak deserves appreciation for coming up with an interesting script and a crisp screenplay for Jokali. He has executed a few sequences very well.
However, Gowri Shankar, who makes his debut as hero with this film, disappoints a lot. His performance in song sequences is far from satisfactory. Gowri Shankar lacks the ability to differentiate between sentiment and romance. He looks stoic in most of the sequences. Perhaps, lack of training in acting made him fail in his maiden film. As if it was not enough, Udayatara too fails to do justice to her assignment. She does nothing except opening her eyes wide. In dance sequences, she just walks, when she is supposed to run around the trees with enthusiasm.
The movie is about Vedha (Gowri Shankar), who works at a touring talkies. Sujatha (Udayatara), the sister of police inspector Kishore (Ravi Kale), falls in love with Vedha. Initially, Vedha tries to keep her at an arm's length but later reciprocates her love.
Meanwhile, circumstances compel her to pretend not to be in love with Vedha. Her brother even attempts to poison Vedha but latter's mother becomes the victim. Later, the scene shifts to Bangalore, where Vedha turns an anchor for a TV channel. The film ends with Sujatha committing suicide.
It is unfortunate to see Rangayana Raghu, who is known for his dialogue delivery, struggling hard to live up to his image. Muni and Ravi Kale provided good support. Bullet Prakash disappears from the scene as soon as he appears. S A Rajkumar has provided lilting tunes. Umashree's role is brief.
Jokali worth watching if you are ready to cope with monotonous performance of Gowri Shankar, Udayatara and Rangayana Raghu.
maheswarareddy@expressbuzz.com
