Andhra Pradesh

Buddha: a well-crafted flick

Positive impact: A scene from ‘Buddha’

Film: Buddha

Cast: Sunil, Suman, Parvati Melton

Direction: Allani Sridhar

Those of you who think that ‘Buddha’ is another documentary will be pleasantly surprised. Very neatly directed by Allani Sridhar, the film deserves our nation’s gratitude.

The two-hour and ten-minute ‘Buddha’ is more than a movie – a vivid reminder of ‘Sanatana Dharma’ and his eight-fold path that comprises the fabric of our country.

The film doesn’t bore you with unnecessary details, but confines itself to the teaching of ‘Buddha’ and the impact it has on people. There are not many songs and the very few present are situational and add credibility to the script without digressing from the content.

The first hour depicts how Siddartha, son of King Suddodhana, marries Vasundhara in order to please his father, but soon renounces the worldly pleasures to seek the truth. Later, he undertakes six years of penance and when he attains enlightenment meets Bimbisara, as promised, to share his knowledge. Ajatsatru, son of Bimbisara, kills his father on Devdutta’s advice, but later Buddha frees him from guilt.

The highlight of the film is the conversation between King Suddodhana and Buddha while the former is on his death bed. The sanyasis belittling Amrapali’s occupation and Buddha’s response to it, Angoolimaal’s act of retribution, all reads like an engrossing story book. The last scene where Buddha explains to his disciple Ananda that he shouldn’t worry about Kapilvastu not having a successor and his question, “Do you think it happened because of me?” is very thought provoking.

Suman plays Bimbisara, Ashok is Prasenjit, Parvati Melton is Amrapali and all of them have performed well. Sunil didn’t get to do much in Sundarakanda but he carries his role with aplomb, plays the role of both strength and vulnerability.

Kudos to producer Rajashekar for embarking on a theme that is commercially risky and has few takers. Dr. Sivanananda Murty has done enough research for the film and his dream on a ‘righteous living’ comes alive on screen.

Finally, the integrity of the film as a whole has been kept intact….everything from the music, to the dialogues, camera work to the final scene.

A well crafted movie, it leaves feeling you really good and positive…

Y. SUNITA CHOWDHARY

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