Karnataka

No depth in storytelling, no consistency in narration

Lack of familiarity: A scene from ‘Ghatothkach’.

Ghatothkach (Hindi Animated)

Director: Singeetam Srinivasa Rao

No gain, no pain. You watch and forget. You can forget to watch as well. It is that kind of a film. You don’t mind watching it. You don’t mind missing it either. There are moments of genuine good humour. But they come interspersed with long sermons and inane drama.

Not quite the stuff one would expect from Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, who still has a little deposit in the memory bank of cinemagoers, courtesy “Pushpak”, a two-decade old silent film starring Amala.

Here Rao tries to grow with the times and tries his hand at animation. And the safest way to animation success these days appears to be via mythology.

After all, this was the path taken in “Hanuman”, the first runaway success. Unfortunately “Hanuman” is a tough act to follow as the makers of “Krishna”, “Bal Ganesh” and “My Friend Ganesha” have already discovered. Now is the turn of Rao, who picks up the story of the relatively lesser known Ghatothkach to put together this film.

However, the lack of comforting familiarity with the lead character limits the film’s appeal. Unlike Hanuman or Krishna, Ghatothkach, the son of Bheema and Hidimba, does need an introduction.

The young viewers have to be told a thing or two about the mythological hero who has never evoked as much awe as, say, Bheema, Arjuna or the epochal battle of the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The adults have to jog their memory too. And unlike the others, Ghatothkach does not lend himself to animation that naturally.

For kids he comes across as just another mischievous mythological character. The children don’t identify with his antics as much as they would with those of Hanuman or Krishna.

When the director jumps from the antics of the child Ghatothkach to the adult, it is not without a jerk. And the little sidelight of the Subhadra story leaves the young viewers quite lost.

For adults, there is not enough depth in storytelling and consistency in the narration to hold their interest. The dialogues are not remarkable either. And the songs only serve to retard the progress of the story.

Any positives? Yes, the initial few minutes are quite good with the child Ghatothkach winning over the viewers with his cute work. The little ones clap as Ghatothkach solves problems bigger than his size. And the adults laugh in a belated attempt to keep pace with the children. Some of the animation of the lead characters is good. Unfortunately, that is not something one can say about the entire film.

Sorry, Rao. Despite all your attempts to keep in touch with the changing times, we will remember you for “Pushpak”, a film that was eloquent in its silence. “Ghatothkach” is neither silent nor eloquent.

ZIYA US SALAM

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