Puksatte Lifu

Plot: Shahajahan, an honest key maker, finds himself becoming an unlikely accomplice to a bunch of policemen who are thieves themselves. What follows then is a rollercoaster ride filled with many laughs and some shocks.

Review: Puksatte Lifu Pursotte Illa is the debut directorial of Aravind Kuplikar, who has worked with the likes of Prakash Raj and B Suresha. This is a dark comedy of errors with philosophical undertones that allows you to devour it with just the right mix of everything.

The film is about Shahajahan, a key maker living in Bidadi, who leads an honest existence with his family and love interest Sharada. It is by accident that he ends up encountering a set of policemen, who moonlight as thieves. Shahajahan becomes an accomplice to their crimes and adventures. But all good runs face hurdles and what happens then?

The film is a fun-filled joyride on the outside, but the narrative also has philosophical undertones that one cannot miss. The smart writing also shows one how the bigger problems in life are beyond those of religion or gender in subtle nuances while showcasing the relationship between Shahajahan and Sharada.

What works for this film is the casting. Aravind has kept it real and each of the characters, however small their screen time may be, seem perfect. The writing is the other highlight. The dialogues are f unny and the humour isn't forced. The treatment of the characters is very organic, which adds to the appeal. The cinematography by Advaitha Gurumurthy is noir in style and draws you into the narrative. And the background music by Poornachandra Tejaswi complements it perfectly. The songs in the film too play a role in taking the story forward.

When it comes to acting, late Sanchari Vijay seems perfectly cast in a role he takes to like fish to water. Achyuta Kumar is the other actor who stands out in a role that allows him to excel. Rangayana Raghu is effortless in his comic timing, while Matangi Prasan holds her own in a nuanced performance. The big ensemble leaves little room for complaints.

Puksatte Lifu Pursotte Illa may have a moment or two where the story might meander away, but if one chooses to ignore that this film definitely is a breath of fresh air and proves that content is eventually the king in cinema.