Film: Jai Maruthi 800
Cast: Sharan, Sruthi Hariharan, Shubha Punja, Arun Sagar, Sadhu Kokila, Saurav Loki, Madhu Guruswamy
Director: A Harsha
One experiences a sense of supreme accomplishment if one can blur the line between laughter and life. A Harsha can claim to have achieved this feat with Jai Martuhi 800.
In his first attempt with comedy, the director has used a simple, tried-and-tested formula but with a touch of freshness.
And while he has done that with precision, he might just have failed to reach the laudable mark had he not chosen Sharan to play the lead.
The actor, who strikes a balance between romance and comedy, has indeed raised his own stature; no known comedy actor has even worked to get a six-pack in Sandalwood.
And he does not stop at that; he announces that he means business while being funny. The beginning of the film is shown in an animated sequence and the story revolves around Jeeva (Sharan), whose only intention is to bring together two broken villages together while balancing his love life with Geetha (Shruti Hariharan) and Smitha (Shubha Punja).
Harsha takes us back to some popular films, sagas of family bonding, love and sentiment stitched together with dance and songs. There is no hero worship, but the director has intelligently made use of an ensemble star cast, each with appropriate screen presence. Special mention should be made of Sharan and Arun Sagar.
Harsha has tried his best to keep up the suspense of why he brings in Lord Hanuman. Although the film is a slightly stretched out, it manages to engage.
Sharan has strengthened his forte and makes the audience feel he is one among them. Bringing out multiple shades in one film is not an easy job, but he has managed to carry it off.
Sruthi Hariharan and Shubha Punja add glamour and support the lighter side of the storyline. Though the two villains, Saurav Loki and Madhu Guruswamy, play their parts well, the former definitely needs a special mention for his versatility.
Harsha, also the choreographer, knows how to pump up his film with some tapagunchi steps. Matching his style with the music is Arjun Janya. Among the songs Jai Maruthi sung by Puneeth is already a chartbuster. Cinematographer Janardhan Swamy adds colour to the entire effort.
While Harsha makes sure to give a paisa vasool film, Sharan makes it rupiya vasool entertainment.