Kanasugara— No dreamer, this

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The Kannada version of the Tamil hit film Unnedhithal Ennai Koduthein is very pleasant to the eyes. But Ravichandran looks dejected. Prema has done an excellent job and lifts the film.

Two petty thieves, Ravichandran and Mandya Ramesh, get locked in a kitchen for a week while trying to escape. During this time, they are found to be innocents by Prema who is living in the house with her relatives away. The thieves work as cooks but it is a jolly time for Prema. Soon all is not okay when Ravichandran comes back to return the diary that his pal had lifted from the house. On a charge of theft, the elders kick out Prema who is living with her stepmother. Left with no choice, Prema is supported by Ravichandran. It is at this stage that her talent of singing is discovered. Now it is time for the hero to sacrifice. A prolific singer, Prema, at last pays rich dividends to Ravichandran for his unadulterated support.

This is a film Ravichandran accepted for Kannada activist and producer Sa.Ra. Govindu so as to bail him out of the losses of his last film Chora Chitta Chora in which he starred. The usual taste of glamour and spectacular sets in all Ravichandran films is missing. He looks jaded and it is as if he is acting out of compulsion. Comedy actor Mandya Ramesh overshadows everyone. Shashikumar is wasted. Even the title Kanasugara - meaning dreamer, is not apt.

This is actress Prema’s film all the way despite the presence of Ravichandran, the dream merchant of Kannada cinema. There are two lovely tunes but the music track is also lifted from the original film.

Produced by Sa.Ra. Govindu and directed by Karan, the film has music by Rajesh Ramanathan. It stars Ravichandran, Prema, Shashikumar, Mandya Ramesh, Srinath, Hema Chaudhary and Ambika.

Jenugoodu — Futile attempt

This is a below average film. A remake of the Tamil film Koodivaaldhan Koodinanmai. Several subjects of this kind have hit the Kannada screen in the past and director S. Umesh, known for family subjects through Thumbida Mane, has made a similar subject film. It looks like a remake of his own film. As an editor, he has failed miserably as there are many disjointed scenes.

There is good unity in a family of three brothers - Dharmanna, Krishna and Nagesha. When Nagesha starts earning a handsome salary, insecurity crops up in Krishna as he has no job but four children to fed. The elder Dharmanna and his wife Sharadha (played by Devraj and Sithara) are moderate members in the family. Nagesh, a general manager in a company, changes his attitude towards his brothers and the harmonious joint family gets divided into three parts. Mainly because Nagesha wants to maintain his prestige and thinks that it is because of his earning that the huge family is pulling on. Nagesh is bedridden and is in the hospital after losing his kidneys in an accident. His elder sister-in-law Sharadha donates one of her kidneys to Nagesh and saves him from the virtual death.

Kumar Govind makes a futile attempt. Actress Shruthi is at her usual best. Devraj only yells. Umasri and Karibasavaiah is a painful pair. They have worked hard in tearing your eardrums into pieces. Mohan has lent able support.

Produced by K. Manju, the film has screenplay, editing and direction by S. Umesh. It has cinematography by R. Giri and music by Prashanthraj. The film stars Devraj, Sithara, Shruthi, Kumar Govind, Umasri, Karibasavaiah, Mohan and Janardhan.