Kanasembo kudureyaneri

A story has a beginning, middle and an end, but it's not necessary that they be in the same order.

Kanasembo Kudureyaneri (Riding the Stallion of a Dream) is a Kannada language movie written and Directed by Meastro Girish Kasaravalli. And it is based on Amaresh Nugadoni's short story "Savaari" Its a film that deals with the life of a terribly poor couple, Irya and Rudri. While Rudri works at a farm, Irya is a professional grave digger and waits for someone in the village to die, so that he gets to do some work.

The film applies a back and forth narrative to tell the story of gravedigger Irya and his belief in Siddhas, nomads whose arrival is considered auspicious. It is believed that if the death of a person coincides with the arrival of a Siddha, the soul is sure to go to heaven.

Irya and his wife are made known of their arrival through dreams. In fact for Irya, if a Siddha appears in his dream, it denotes a death in the village. However, once despite dreaming of a Siddha, Irya is told that there is no death in the village. He goes to the house of an ailing village elder, anticipating his death, but is sent back by the house caretaker saying all is well.

As if this is not enough, a Siddha not arriving in the village despite his wife having dreamt of his arrival, crushes Irya's faith in Siddhas, whom he believes are his protectors. Is Irya just an easy prey to superstitions, or are scheming villagers exploiting his dreams for their own good? The film beautifully exposes the materialistic attitude of people. It leaves you wondering whether destroying one's beliefs is the only way to progress; whether there are chances of beliefs being mistaken for superstitions just because the ones who hold these beliefs are not part of the mainstream.

Kasarvalli's use of non-linear narrative for the first time succeeds in building the audience's curiosity. V Manohar's music and Ramachandra Halikere's camera work complement the story.

The performances are the other highlight of the film. Kasarvalli gets credit for bringing out the serious actor in comedian Vyjanath Biradar, who excels as Irya. Umashree sinks into the role of Rudri. Sadhashiva Bramhavar as the caretaker also comes out with a stellar performance.

Am going with 9 out of 10, for its Great performances, thought provoking storyline and sincere screenplay.

Girish Kasaravalli's Riding the stallion of dreams is a lesser seen modern work of art. An interesting plot mixed with the cultural background of North Karnataka mixed with feudalism as opposed to the rise of industrialism and the decay of moral presumptuousness.

The plot is kept minimal to it's best but borrowing a non -linear pattern of back and forth to tell it's tale of woe and fraudulence. Irya and Rudri are two utter poverty stricken couple. Irya digs graves while Rudri works at the landowners plantation picking flowers.While burying the dead in Hinduism is a vague concept (normally it is cremated) it doesn't occur much in the village side. While tradition speaks of a revered sadhu called 'Siddha' or who he heeds to the call comes when someone has deceased it brings good luck to the village resulting in a good harvest.

Here comes the main part of the story. A feudal farmer who has been ill for the past few months is visited by his eldest son among other heirs. driven by desire to sell his plot to factories so that he can make an English school and make a better living out of his profession as a college professor. His wife and child is less ado bothered about her father-in-law. The caretaker Matadayya tells them to take care of her father-in-law as he will die within a few days. Inter twined with it Irya dreams of the father-in-laws death and makes a burial ground and goes to the feudal family's home for the burial process. He is mocked by Matadayya and sent away with a mere 20 rupees. Then Irya begins to contemplate weather his dream has failed him for it has never happened so, and his dream is precision wise accurate. The next day Rudri,Irya's wife dreams of Siddha visiting the village. She goes begging money and vegetable culinaries and meat with liquor to hold the tradition of inviting him. But when Siddha doesn't arrive both fall in mere depression that their dreams has failed them or perhaps are they rejected in God's eyes ?

A film like this has to be experienced and it surely will break cultural barriers. Highly recommended.