Mahesh Sukadhare’s ambitions were quite different when he started his film Ambareesha from what the end product has turned out to be. He had envisioned a commercial film with a strong social message. Yet, what he ends up achieving is a classic masala film without anything new in it.
With superstar Darshan playing the protagonist and well-known actor Ambareesh lending his name to the title, the film had a lot going for it, but was unable to utilise its potential.
The plot revolves around a team of senior citizens who form a group called Team Bengaluru who want to save the city from land grabbers and their efforts are supported by Soniya, an IPS officer.
The film opens with NRI Smitha (Priyamani), granddaughter of Surya Narayan, the owner of a high-profile construction company. Smitha, who has just returned to India, is a young spoilt brat who only values dollars and decries all things Indian. In a dramatic introduction, Smitha is seen using a ` 1000 note to wipe her face.
Surya Narayan asks his granddaughter to wait for Ambi aka Ambareesha (Darshan), who despite being a daily wage labourer in the factory, is also extremely close to the owners. Smitha can’t stand Ambi from the moment she sets her eyes on him as he defies her notions of class. Unlike the rest of her family who actually like Ambi, she wants to break him.
Thereafter the plot shifts to Karuna (Rachita Ram), a student studying at Bangalore University who is in love with Ambi. The two are blessed by the respective families and everything seems to be going well till Smitha arrives on the scene.
Smitha who does not like this relationship between Karuna and Ambi, targets Karuna by saying ‘Ee Smash (Smitha’s nick name) jothe clash aadre, ash hagbitya’ (If you clash with Smash, you will become ash).
Meanwhile Smitha tries to lure Ambi to her side but fails. However, she succeeds in getting rid of him at the workplace by provoking him into leaving his job. The unemployed Ambi starts a small-time construction business and is satisfied in his professional and personal life.
However, Smitha still wants revenge and joins the RDX group (headed by Kelly Dorje) operating from Malaysia who intend to build a casino at Kempabedi Lake, Bengaluru. The story unfolds when Kempe Gowda comes into the picture and reveals the complex reality of how most of the lands in Bengaluru are under litigation.
Where does the real Ambi come from? Why he becomes a coolie? What is the mysterious presence of Kempe Gowda all about?
The second half of the film transforms into a battlefield where Kempe Gowda and his great sword are the driving force that demolish all the land grabbers at once.
This film helmed by Mahesh shows that the director has not updated himself to the current cinematic formulae required for making a commercial film. Though Chintan, the script writer, focusses on the issue of land mafia in Bengaluru which is a fresh subject, the director has not taken control of the narrative or the style. Instead he has integrated the tried and tested formula of hero meets heroine, villain enters and revenge drama is enacted and the whole thing is peppered with a lot of action, inane dialogues and songs.
Darshan gets to anchor the major part of the film and is perfect for the part. His individual moments are brilliant. His layered characters whether that of an angry young rebel or as a gentle cowherd are equally powerful.
Sadly, the film misses the presence of a strong villain. Instead of a real baddie, we see a couple of middling bad guys like Ravi Kale and Sharath Lohitashwa, Praveen Nayak bumbling around. Kelly Dorje who is supposed to be the main antagonist does most of his acting on the phone and when makes he makes his presence felt, it is entirely short-lived.
Rachita Ram who plays the love interest to Darshan, plays her part well and looks pretty in the song sequences. It is sad to see how Priymani who starts off as a strong character is reduced to a caricature in the second half of the story.
The rest of the cast are wasted with some comic inputs by Bullet Prakash and Sadhu Kokila. The film has some good dialogues from Darshan which add a punch. Cinematographer Sathya Hegde has a limited vision of Bengaluru and doesn’t show the highlights of the cityscape. V Harikrishna’s tracks are okay and work with the theme of the story. The song on Kempe Gowda is expressed well with the lyrics but not with the picturisation.
The film could have easily done with tighter editing and shorter screen time.
The Verdict: This is a typical old-fashioned masala movie and brings nothing new to the table. The only reason to watch Ambareesha can be for Darshan who puts up a good show.