Ghatashraddha (1977) :
Movie Review -
How the holy ritual became a burden for Vedic geniuses and women at the time. I don't know which era this film is set in, but Shraddha's ritual and the Vedic school have been quite familiar to me as well. It's a title that explores a father performing a Shraddha of his own daughter while she is still alive. I sensed that it would happen much before it actually occurred in the film. The excitement was only there to see how it unfolds. As expected, it revolves around a girl's romantic affair and the strict rules of Brahmins against it. Yet, we have a child at the center, who witnesses all these events unfold before his very eyes and then takes a stand. He stands with the girl, not knowing the consequences, because he is too little to make any such decision and isn't mature enough to understand the rules and traditions of the community. Still, watching such a small kid take a stand against age-old customs and support a woman was deeply impressive. I have a few complaints, though. The film is slow-paced - intentionally. It was the decade of experimental films, and many new filmmakers had this itch for foreign-style storytelling. This film reflects that foreign transition happening within Indian cinema. It wasn't the first to do so; so I can't even credit it for that. Yes, some scenes are masterfully directed, and the camerawork is wonderful. It's a film that tests your patience and carries a predictable plot, but the kind of storytelling and subtle momentum it holds is worth noticing. For its time, it was ahead of its era. Now, it feels dated. It's slow in both contexts. The performance by the child actor was phenomenal. Ajith was natural and even felt adorably cute at times. Meena Kuttappa, with that sad face, delivered a painful portrayal of a troubled girl. Narayana Bhat and others were commendable in their roles. Girish Kasaravalli's arrival in the cinema world came with some brilliant elements and certainly provides a different experience.
RATING - 6/10*
By - #samthebestest.
