Thithi

Happy-go-lucky Century Gowda, who is 101 years old, is having a normal day in his life when death strikes him suddenly. What follows is a bittersweet comedy with the backdrop of a thithi (funeral).

Raam Reddy's debut directorial effort has already gained quite some fame before its commercial release. Written by Eregowda, the film has regular village people cast as the leads, as it traverses through the mundane and yet comes out as overwhelming in its extraordinary ability bring out the complexities in the simplicity of their lives.

The first scene, involving Century Gowda in a no-holds-barred commentary on the varied villagers passing by in front of his make believe throne, sets the tempo as to what to expect from this film. One might assume that a film which has scored a perfect 10 on the festival circuit may not "entertain" in the filmi sense of the word, but that is where the beauty of this tale lies. Even though the casting and setting may not be commercially enticing, the film has all that it takes to evoke laughter and more from the viewers. In no way is it drab and is easily one of the best Kannada films that has released in the recent years.

The film follows everyday emotions like greed, lust and gluttony, while showing us a peek into the minds and lives of the surviving three generations in Century Gowda's family. The language is colloquial, yet doesn't seem alien, as these are emotions that work on a larger level.

Be it the incorrigible Century Gowda, his Bohemian natured son Gaddappa, the materialistic grandson Thamanna or the lusting adolescent great-grandson Abhi, they are all characters that remain with you. The narrative is seamless, the film scores high on the technical front and the the final thithi ceremony can leave on yearning of some freshly prepared lamb curry and treats, Mandya style.

While the film is native and the thithi ceremony might be intrinsic to the culture in Mandya, the emotions and laughter resonate on a larger, more global scale. It is reminiscent of the cult comedy series The Gods Must Be Crazy. Thithi is a film that triumphs as both a clever narrative and a hearty entertainer. Watch this, even Francis Ford Coppola has!