Date:20/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/20/stories/2007052015270200.htm

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Karnataka - Bangalore

Strictly for Shivrajkumar fans

A FEAST FOR FANS: Shivrajkumar and Arathi Chabriya in `Santha'.

Santha (Kannada)

Director: S. Muralimohan

Cast: Shivrajkumar,

H.T. Sangliana, Komlakumar, Arathi Chabriya and

Sridevika

Santha reflects the absence of social and moral responsibilities of those concerned, including the artistes who play major roles, producer, director and dialogue writer, right from choosing the subject to translating thoughts into action.

This leaves the audience wondering whether the Censor Board has gone into the merits of the film while certifying it for public viewing.

Contrary to expectations that the film would give a big boost to Shivrajkumar's career, it betrays the tradition set by the late thespian Rajkumar's family in choosing sane stories with sound social messages for over the last 50 years. Director S. Muralimohan takes public decency for granted to contrive gory situations to defend "injustice" caused to an innocent young man and his family.

He ventures to state that police officers in the ranks of Assistant Commissioner of Police, Inspectors and even constables create gangsters out of innocent young men for personal reasons.

On the contrary, top officials realise the social and individual truths and condone the crime committed by such gangsters for humane reasons. For giving credence to his costly narrative, Muralimohan installs the former Director-General of Police and MP H.T. Sangliana as a special task force officer Sangliana to cleanse Bangalore of gangsters and gang wars and to condone the crimes committed by the "innocent" gangster. Shivrajkumar pleases his fans as Santha, alias Santhosh.

K.N. VENKATASUBBA RAO