Experiments in Kannada cinema

By Rajesh N Naidu

India's regional cinema has progressed in terms of the experiments filmmakers have carried out in terms of content, medium, music and visuals. There have been major breakthroughs even on the technical front. There's been substance and richness in content and higher path-breaking innovations in terms of feel and texture of films. As we look back at the hundred years of Indian cinema's existence, here is a list of Kannada films that have been experimental in the aspects mentioned above:  

Samskara (1970)

This film was quite a departure in Kannada cinema, at a time when stories in films hardly broke away from caste hierarchy and other religious and societal stereotypes. It was based on a story by UR Ananthamurthy and directed by Pattabhi Rama Reddy. The film dealt with the journey of a Brahmin, who instead of performing funeral rites of his relative, is stuck in rituals and biases of his community. In an odyssey-like journey, this Brahmin, played ably by Girish Karnad, realizes the futility of rituals and other freedom-curbing traditions.  

Naagarahaavu (1972)

Puttanna Kanagal occupies an important position in Kannada cinema. Though a large number of his films were based on rich and experimental themes found in Kannada literature, his understanding and narrating a story through captivating visuals made him legendary and inspiring to filmmakers across the country. In an interview, Tamil film director K Balachander is reported to have said, “I liked and admire Puttanna Kanagal, because at a time when many of our filmmakers lacked the vision of filmmaking in terms of visuals, he insisted on films being visual than oral. Apart from that, his ability to churn out human emotions from his actors was one of a kind.” His film Naagarahaavu, which was a path-breaking one, is a story of a young boy who makes mistakes under the influence of his teacher and later repents. Interestingly, the teacher here represents the illogical and harmful conditioning of our minds as we grow up in a traditional-and-custom-bound society. 

Ranganayaki (1981)

Again, Puttanna Kanagal made the courage to experiment with content. This film was one of the few films in Indian cinema to use Oedipus complex in a narrative. It is a story of woman who due to a peculiar turn of events falls in love with her own son.
Ondanondu Kaladalli (1978)

Directed by Girish Karnad, this film localized samurai stories seen in Akira Kurusawa’s film in a Kannada milieu. It is a story of a couple of mercenaries who are pitted against each other in the politics of old and feudal Karnataka. And this experiment suited well in those times. 

Tabarana Kathe (1987)

This experimental gem was directed by Girish Kasaravalli. It was known for the grim portrayal of how a system is callous and fails to deliver in ensuring rightful needs of the society. Narrated from the point of view of a government employee, he fails to get his pension money when he needs it. It is a very sensitive portrayal of the decline in value systems and deep-rooted red-tapeism in Indian society.   

Thaayi Saheba (1997)

This is another experimental film in terms of content by Girish Kasaravalli. It talks about the transition of Indian society from pre-independence to post-independence period through the deeply emotional experiences of a woman.