Film: Shiva (Kannada)Director: Om Prakash RaoCast: Shivarajkumar, Ragini, Ravi Kale, Rangayana Raghu, Ravishankar, ShobrajRating: *1/2

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

After delivering a hit like AK 47, actor-director jodi of Shivarajkumar and Om Prakash Rao were making a comeback with their film Shiva to entertain fans and naturally the expectations were high. The posters gave away very little about the plot barring the fact that Shivarajkumar essays the role of a jockey.

The story revolves around an incident involving Shiva’s (Shivarajkumar) father, who is a jockey. He is dubbed a cheater and his honest journalist friend sets out to expose the truth. Shiva opens with a beautifully shot horse race scene creating the impression that you are in for a ‘ride’ of a lifetime but what sadly follows is a revenge drama gone wrong. It won’t take you too long to figure out that the ultimate experience the makers have been promising you all this while is nothing but a action fest. The only difference is this time along with the hero and the bunch of baddies, the bold leading lady (Ragini) also gets to try her hand at action. You’ll find the unimpressive dialogues testing your patience further. In fact some of the ‘funny’ ones may even leave a few leading heroes in the film industry miffed. The editing could have also been much crisper. At one point, in fact, you fail to realise where the fight ends and a duet starts! Not many scenes in the film are original either.

What can also annoy you is the fact that it is not the story, but the songs and fight sequences that get prime importance. This is what leaves little scope for Shivarajkumar to bring out the performer in him. Shobraj, despite the poor plot, however, manages to make an impact with his performance. His act and the song Preeti Madodu Boru… seem to be the only things the film can boast about. The gyaan on the good side of horse betting and the ill effects of child trafficking also do little to sort out the film.

Shiva is a mismatched puzzle that only hardcore Shivarajkumar fans would want to put together. The rest of you can think of alternate weekend plans.