Dasarahalli

By Susmita Sameera

The movie starts with the return of Tejas (Dharma Keerthiraj), a recent graduate, to his village, Dasarahalli. He is reunited with his childhood friends, Kumar (Umesh), and his love interest, Mayuri (Neha). Tejas envisions a future where he studies abroad and then transforms his village into a modern town.
As Tejas departs on his journey to the USA, the film returns its focus to the villagers — men lost in habitual drinking, women overburdened with the dual responsibility of earning and managing their homes, and children silently bearing the brunt of an imbalanced environment.
Will the villagers rise above their flaws and take responsibility? Will Dasarahalli see the dawn of development? And most importantly, will Tejas return to witness a changed and hopeful atmosphere? These questions form the core of the story.
While the film sets out to address the issue of alcohol addiction in the village and how it disrupts families, it falters significantly in execution. Despite its good intentions, the film fails to leave an impact due to poor filmmaking.
What’s more disappointing is the underutilisation of Dharma Keerthiraj. Though his character dreams of transforming the village, he barely contributes to the narrative. The actual efforts to solve the village's problems are led by the women, Gandhian elders, and brief appearances by supporting actors like Thriller Manju, sidelining the protagonist completely.
In an era where films are breaking norms with fresh themes, this film feels like a regressive step, repeating clichés with an outdated and careless approach. The message might be well-meaning, but the lack of cinematic finesse makes it hard for the audience to stay invested.