Maasti Gudi (Kannada)
Cast: Vijay, Amulya, Krithi Karbandha, Rangayana Raghu, B. Jayashree
Direction: Nagashekar
Expectations will be high when somebody announces film on protection of forest wealth, because of standard set in Kannada cinema. Audience were eagerly waiting, when Nagashekar and Duniya Vijay combine announced that the crux of Maasti Gudi is; “as long as the tiger survives in the forest, we will continue to get water in our taps.” Audience wanted to know the connection between tiger and water.
Another reason for greater expectations of audience was; they had experienced films that speaks about protection and preservation of forest and wild animals and wanted to know what new Maasti Gudi has in store for them. Films focussing on rich forest wealth and attempts by greedy people to plunder the non-renewable asset is nothing new to Kannada cinema. M.P. Shankar through his Bharani picture started campaigning on the need to protect and preserve flora and fauna of Karnataka, which was known as land of Sandalwood some five decades ago through Kaadina Rahasya (1969). His land mark film Gandhada Gudi (1974) starring Dr. Rajkumar and Vishnuvardhan is perhaps the first and complete film on the issue, as its focus was protection and preservation of forest and wildlife, even before Wild life Protection Act came in to force and Bandipur and Nagarahole were declared as protected forests or wildlife sanctuaries. It’s sequel starring Shivaraj Kumar with similar concern was released in 1994. Films such as Mrugalaya starring Ambarish and Jayasimha starring Vishnuvardhan and Nagarahole by S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu have also focussed on the issue.
Kannada audience expected much more from Nagashekar and hoped that the movie will help ecologists and wild life activists in their unbridled effort to protect flora and fauna of the land. But, Maasti Gudi does not meet their expectations. It fails in expressing its concern for tigers, which are facing threat from various quarters. Of course, there are similarities between Gandhada Gudi and Maasti Gudi such as protagonist sings a song like Dr. Raj, a story of a girl who sacrifices her life, anti- heroes trying to burn forest and a ghost like in Gandhada Gudi . But none of these create the impact of Gandhada Gudi on audience. While forest officer saves forest in Gandhada Gudi , here forest officers join hands with anti-forest elements.
Save Tiger campaign laced with water conservation turns out to be simply sloganistic in Maasti Gudi, a semi-period film. The film explores life of Maasti-a Kavadiga (elephant caretaker), who fights against forest enemies. It shows different phases of his life from the age of 25 to 81. What happens when anti-forest and wildlife elements crosses his path forms the crux of the story.
Besides appealing to the fans of Vijay, the movie will impress those who love visual wonders of Karnataka forests. As it was made known to the audience that all the animals are creation of computer graphics, there will be no excitement. What lifts film from sagging is its cinematography (Satya Hegde) and background score by Sadhu Kokila. Nagashekar, who is known for making romantic films, tries his best to match with the macho image of Duniya Vijay. He tries his best to avoid the movie getting a documentary feel. It is to be mentioned that the scene which claimed lives of two actors — Anil and Udaty in Tippagondanahalli reservoir recently — will not add any value to the run or the content of the movie in any manner. Both of them turned out to be caricature of villains that’s all. Editor could have salvaged the film by cutting some unnecessary parts and lack of sharpness is visible. Vijay is in his elements when comes to action scenes and he fills life in to the character of Maasti. Krithi Karabandha and Amulya have made use of the little opportunity given to them. Rangayana Raghu and B. Jayashree will act even without the direction of the director.
