Edakallu Guddada Mele
Encyclopedia
Edakallu Guddada Mele is a 1973 Kannada movie by Puttanna Kanagal
starring Jayanthi
, Aarathi
, Chandrashekar, Shivaram.
Jayanthi
, who somehow manages to carry herself despite being a little too well-fed, begins with a song expressing pangs of separation with her soldier-husband. The song -- 'Viraha,' is a classic in Kannada movie lore, and is quite often interjected in banter to express estrangement. As the song ends with the return of her husband, it becomes evident that the war has not just crippled his leg. Subsequently, the trauma of a marriage bereft of a physical relationship is portrayed in sing-song histrionics prevalent in movies of this period. The introduction of the brash, loud, motorbike-riding Nanjunda, infuses enthusiasm into a hitherto hurried and jarring narrative. Nanjunda, a fresh college graduate, also happens to be the Captain's neighbor. A word on topography and co-ordinates is in order here. The movie appears to be depicting Kodagu
(Coorg) as inferred by the frequently portrayed undulating hills, and typical Kodava
dresses. The Captain and Nanjunda, own adjoining estates in this region. Nanjunda is on a visit, and seems to indulge in little but bike-riding and indolence. His dad's estate is managed by his uncle, Shivaram, another stentorian voice that strains the eardrums.
The next part is the heart of the movie where Kanagal shines through with his trademark symbolism and narrative restraint. Many sequences are edited to be suggestive but incomplete, leaving just enough room to make it imaginative, but not enough to make vague. Nanjunda and the couple (Madhavi and the Captain) move from being well-acquainted to being cosy friends through card-games and raucous, if unnecessary, laughter. And then it happens. Madhavi and Nanjunda embark on a picnic to Edakallu gudda (gudda = hill in Kannada), a desolate hilltop that houses a cavern, and has a little pond in it to boot. Though merely playful to begin with, proximity and solitude combine to tempt them, and Madhavi, in a moment of weakness falls prey to lust. If Nanjunds seduced her has no objective answer.
Kanagal's subsequent portrayal of the uneasy relationship between Nanjunda and Madhavi deserves merit for its transitional nature. Nanjunda's infatuation in the immediate aftermath of the their first corporeal encounter, Madhavi's tortured complaisance in furthering the passion, till a fog of guilt and doom descends on her, are excellent in injecting a dash of reality. As the confused relationship teeters, a twist arrives in the form of Devaki, Madhavi's sister who arrives to stay with her sister. Nanjunda is immediately enamoured, and switched allegiance in a trice. But Devaki proves a harder nut to crack, and his advances are spurned with minimal effort. As a hapless onlooker to this courtship, Madhavi's welling emotions brimmeth over, adding anger and betrayal to guilt and remorse. Meanwhile, Nanjunda achieves a breakthrough as he machinates a picnic to, where else—Edakallu gudda, with Devaki. He isn't as lucky this time. As Nanjunda gets more desperate in wooing Devaki, and Madhavi gets even more desperate in protecting her sister, things come to a head. The cat is let out of the bag in the form of too audible a meow emanating from Nanjunda's bedroom -- that Madhavi creates and (a conveniently somnambulating) Devaki overhears. An interspersed song with the two sisters as muses, is pleasant for its departure from being a typical male-female duet. The climax is best left to the viewer.
The plot is loosely bound, and some elements are superfluous. Nanjunda is at times unwittingly hilarious because of his cheesy dialogues or attire. However, the better part of the movie is riveting. That Kanagal touched this theme in a bluenosed era is laudable, but that it was done so only with a 20 foot pole is unfortunate.
Some dialogues are too repetitive ["Gammath", "First time"], and dissonate harshly. But on the whole, an excellent movie, considering the age, and a must-watch for any movie buff, especially Kannada .
Puttanna Kanagal
Puttanna Kanagal was one of the most prominent Kannada film directors of the 1960s and the 70s. Although the majority of his films were on offbeat or taboo subjects, he endeared himself to both the critics and ordinary film goers alike. He also directed a handful Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and...
starring Jayanthi
Jayanthi (actress)
Jayanthi is an Indian actress. She has appeared in over 500 films, including films in the Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi and Marathi languages. In Kannada movies, she was honored with the title Abhinaya Sharade....
, Aarathi
Aarathi
Aarathi is an Indian actress and producer of Kannada movies.She first became popular during the late 1970s and 1980s, and was recognised for her roles in movies such as Naagarahaavu, Edakallu Guddada Mele, Bili Hendthi, Dharmasere, Paduvaaralli Pandavaru, Ranganayaki, Hombisilu, Upaasane and...
, Chandrashekar, Shivaram.
Summary
This movie is loosely based on an eponymous novel by Bharathi Suta. It has different layers to it, but the storyline is built around a couple and their young neighbour who get entangled in a complex relationship. The Kannada novel is an Indian adaptation of the famous English novel of D H Lawrence, Lady Chatterley's Lover.Cast
- Ranga as Captain Kumar, an ex-soldier
- JayanthiJayanthi (actress)Jayanthi is an Indian actress. She has appeared in over 500 films, including films in the Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi and Marathi languages. In Kannada movies, she was honored with the title Abhinaya Sharade....
as Madhavi, the captain's wife - Chandrashekar as Nanjunda, a fresh college graduate and the captain's neighbor.
- AarathiAarathiAarathi is an Indian actress and producer of Kannada movies.She first became popular during the late 1970s and 1980s, and was recognised for her roles in movies such as Naagarahaavu, Edakallu Guddada Mele, Bili Hendthi, Dharmasere, Paduvaaralli Pandavaru, Ranganayaki, Hombisilu, Upaasane and...
as Devaki, Madhavi's younger sister - Shivaram as Nanjunda's uncle
Plot
The movie begins with Sanskrit saying, 'kaamaaturaaNam nabhayam nalajja (A lustful person knows neither fear nor shame),' and the rest of the movie attempts to illustrate the same. Kama is one of the six moral weaknesses: kama (passion/lust), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (attachment), madha (pride) and matsara (envy).Jayanthi
Jayanthi (actress)
Jayanthi is an Indian actress. She has appeared in over 500 films, including films in the Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi and Marathi languages. In Kannada movies, she was honored with the title Abhinaya Sharade....
, who somehow manages to carry herself despite being a little too well-fed, begins with a song expressing pangs of separation with her soldier-husband. The song -- 'Viraha,' is a classic in Kannada movie lore, and is quite often interjected in banter to express estrangement. As the song ends with the return of her husband, it becomes evident that the war has not just crippled his leg. Subsequently, the trauma of a marriage bereft of a physical relationship is portrayed in sing-song histrionics prevalent in movies of this period. The introduction of the brash, loud, motorbike-riding Nanjunda, infuses enthusiasm into a hitherto hurried and jarring narrative. Nanjunda, a fresh college graduate, also happens to be the Captain's neighbor. A word on topography and co-ordinates is in order here. The movie appears to be depicting Kodagu
Kodagu
Kodagu , also known by its anglicised former name of Coorg, is an administrative district in Karnataka, India. It occupies an area of in the Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka. As of 2001, the population was 548,561, 13.74% of which resided in the district's urban centres, making it the least...
(Coorg) as inferred by the frequently portrayed undulating hills, and typical Kodava
Kodava
The Kodavas are a patrilineal ethno-lingual group from the region of Kodagu, in Karnataka state of southern India who traditionally were land-owning agriculturists with martial traditions and natively speak Kodava takk...
dresses. The Captain and Nanjunda, own adjoining estates in this region. Nanjunda is on a visit, and seems to indulge in little but bike-riding and indolence. His dad's estate is managed by his uncle, Shivaram, another stentorian voice that strains the eardrums.
The next part is the heart of the movie where Kanagal shines through with his trademark symbolism and narrative restraint. Many sequences are edited to be suggestive but incomplete, leaving just enough room to make it imaginative, but not enough to make vague. Nanjunda and the couple (Madhavi and the Captain) move from being well-acquainted to being cosy friends through card-games and raucous, if unnecessary, laughter. And then it happens. Madhavi and Nanjunda embark on a picnic to Edakallu gudda (gudda = hill in Kannada), a desolate hilltop that houses a cavern, and has a little pond in it to boot. Though merely playful to begin with, proximity and solitude combine to tempt them, and Madhavi, in a moment of weakness falls prey to lust. If Nanjunds seduced her has no objective answer.
Kanagal's subsequent portrayal of the uneasy relationship between Nanjunda and Madhavi deserves merit for its transitional nature. Nanjunda's infatuation in the immediate aftermath of the their first corporeal encounter, Madhavi's tortured complaisance in furthering the passion, till a fog of guilt and doom descends on her, are excellent in injecting a dash of reality. As the confused relationship teeters, a twist arrives in the form of Devaki, Madhavi's sister who arrives to stay with her sister. Nanjunda is immediately enamoured, and switched allegiance in a trice. But Devaki proves a harder nut to crack, and his advances are spurned with minimal effort. As a hapless onlooker to this courtship, Madhavi's welling emotions brimmeth over, adding anger and betrayal to guilt and remorse. Meanwhile, Nanjunda achieves a breakthrough as he machinates a picnic to, where else—Edakallu gudda, with Devaki. He isn't as lucky this time. As Nanjunda gets more desperate in wooing Devaki, and Madhavi gets even more desperate in protecting her sister, things come to a head. The cat is let out of the bag in the form of too audible a meow emanating from Nanjunda's bedroom -- that Madhavi creates and (a conveniently somnambulating) Devaki overhears. An interspersed song with the two sisters as muses, is pleasant for its departure from being a typical male-female duet. The climax is best left to the viewer.
Critique
Kanagal's movies have always enjoyed the presence of striking female characters and this movie is no different. Madhavi and her sister steal the viewer's attention, while the male characters server as adjuncts. Nanjunda's character is reasonably interesting and at times intriguing, however, the Captain's role is disappointingly passive—not helped in the least by Ranga's wooden performance, while Shivaram could have been replaced by a dull piece of furniture.The plot is loosely bound, and some elements are superfluous. Nanjunda is at times unwittingly hilarious because of his cheesy dialogues or attire. However, the better part of the movie is riveting. That Kanagal touched this theme in a bluenosed era is laudable, but that it was done so only with a 20 foot pole is unfortunate.
Some dialogues are too repetitive ["Gammath", "First time"], and dissonate harshly. But on the whole, an excellent movie, considering the age, and a must-watch for any movie buff, especially Kannada .
Soundtrack
| Title | Singers | Lyrics |
|---|---|---|
| Nillu Nille | S. Janaki S. Janaki S. Janaki is an Indian female playback singer. Renowned for her voice modulation abilities, she has sung in many Indian languages, most frequently in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, she has won four National Film Awards and 35... |
Vijaya Narasimha |
| Santosha Sangeetha | S. P. Balasubramaniam, Susheela P. Susheela Pulapaka Susheela is an Indian playback singer. In a career spanning more than four decades, she has recorded songs in many Indian languages including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Sanskrit, Tulu, Badaga and Sinhalese.-Personal life:She is the daughter of Pulapaka... |
Vijaya Narasimha |
| Sanyaasi Sanyaasi | S. Janaki S. Janaki S. Janaki is an Indian female playback singer. Renowned for her voice modulation abilities, she has sung in many Indian languages, most frequently in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, she has won four National Film Awards and 35... |
R. N. Jayagopal R. N. Jayagopal R. N. Jayagopal was an Indian lyricist of the Kannada film industry who wrote over 12000 film songs.-Death:He died on 19 May 2008 at the age of 72 following a cardiac arrest... |
| Virha Nooru Nooru | Susheela P. Susheela Pulapaka Susheela is an Indian playback singer. In a career spanning more than four decades, she has recorded songs in many Indian languages including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Sanskrit, Tulu, Badaga and Sinhalese.-Personal life:She is the daughter of Pulapaka... |
Vijaya Narasimha |
| Yaaroorava Iva | S. Janaki S. Janaki S. Janaki is an Indian female playback singer. Renowned for her voice modulation abilities, she has sung in many Indian languages, most frequently in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, she has won four National Film Awards and 35... |
K. Prabhakar Shastry |
External links
- http://www.raaga.com/channels/kannada/moviedetail.asp?mid=k0000956