Vaastu Prakara (Kannada)
Direction: Yogaraj Bhat
Cast: Jaggesh, Rakshit Shetty, Ishani Shetty, Parul Yadav, Anant Nag, Sudharani, T.N. Seetharam, Sudha Belwadi
Expectations are always high when Yogaraj Bhat makes a film. Post the big hit Mungaru Male , he has made many out-of-the-box films such as Paramatma , Pancharangi , Gaalipata , Manasare , Lifu Ishtene , and Drama . However, his latest, Vaastu Prakara, is bound to disappoint those who are hoping for Yogaraj magic.
This project, which had Yogaraj multitasking as director, producer, and script, dialogue and lyrics writer, explores the phenomenon of people’s faith in Vaastu. After exploring various loopholes in it, he tries to offer a cinematic treatment to it. He shows how two protagonists in his film try to exploit Vaastu in a foreign land with a comic touch.
Vaastu Prakara is the story of four couples of three generations: T.N. Seetharam–Sudha Belwadi, Anant Nag–Sudharani, Jaggesh–Parul Yadav and Rakshit Shetty–Ishani Shetty.
While Seetharam speaks for Vaastu Shastra, his son Rakshit rejects it as superstition and rebels against his father.
But, the irony is that Rakshit with the support of his uncle (Jaggesh) is forced to bat for Vaastu for a livelihood in a foreign land. Yogaraj, who always banks on punchy dialogues, fails to make the film either an engaging romance or a full-blown comedy. It appears as if Yogaraj’s script does not have its Vaastu right, as the 145-minute film becomes a monotonous journey in a foreign land. Screenplay is not engrossing either.
Performance wise, it is Jaggesh who carries the burden of the film to a larger extent. Rakshit and Ishani have nothing major to offer. Audience certainly will miss Rakshit of Simpallag Ondh Love Story and Ulidavaru Kandante . Anant Nag, Sudha Belwadi, Seetharam and Sudhara Rani will not disappoint the audience. Songs by Yogaraj and Jayant Kaikini provide some relief. Santosh Rai Pathaje fails to create magic with his frames in foreign locations.
MURALIDHARA KHAJANE
