'Ishta' (Kannada)
Director: RP Krishna
Cast: Bhoomika, Santosh, Raviteja, Honnavalli Krishna, Satyajith
It is unfortunate that many producers and directors are yet to learn a lesson even after a number of films, made without a strong script and crisp screenplay. These films have crashed at the box office beyond redemption. If the script and star cast of film ‘Ishta’ are anything to go by, it seems that producer Vijaykumar T Chabria and director RP Krishna are in a terrible hurry to make their debut in Sandalwood.
As a producer, Chabria is free to make a film and as a father to promote his daughter Bhoomika as an actress but, he has to think twice before making such an attempt. ‘Ishta’ would have been a good film if Chabria had given a proper training to his daughter in acting. The problem with Bhoomika is that her body language and gestures are not up to the mark. Bhoomika looks stoic throughout the movie. She walks in song sequences where she should dance.
As far as Sidharth’s performance is concerned, he too has to go a long way before he establishes himself as an actor. Raviteja, who acted as the villain, is unfit. He, except mouthing a few dialogues — ‘husband silent wife violent’ — has nothing to do in this film. The scene where he asks an underworld don from Mumbai to dispatch narcotics to Bangalore for distribution among college students is far from convincing. Narcotics have no role in this film since neither the heroine nor the hero is addicted to drugs.
The other scene where the hero indulges in fighting with goons for thrusting a liquor bottle in a child labourer’s mouth is also not up to the mark. Director Krishna should realize that employing children at a bar and restaurant amounts to violation of the Child Labour Act. As if it is not enough, a police officer advises the hero to take care of the boy but does not utter a word against the manager for engaging children to work at a bar and a restaurant.
The essence of ‘Ishta’ is Krishna alias Bandi Krishna (Santosh) desperately trying to rejoin with his mother but in vain. Nanda (Bhoomika), the daughter of a jailor, happens to admit Krishna’s mother to a hospital. Nanda comes to know that Krishna, as a child, killed his father for not only attempting to rape a girl but also beating his mother. She decides to help Krishna to stay with his mother.
Meanwhile, Nanda’s maternal uncle Vinod (Raviteja), comes to Bangalore from Mumbai. Vinod manipulates things in his favour and marries Nanda after ensuring Krishna ends up behind bars in a false case.
The only consolation is cinematography by C S Mahadev. The main disadvantage is the absence of humour which is required to break the monotony. The scene where Honnavalli Krishna attempts to enter a temple premises in an inebriated condition fails to impress even the front benchers.
All in all, one needs a lot of patience to watch this flick.