Ghauttham Movie Review

Movie Review By Raju Shanbhag

Ancient Remake

Actually, it’s the story of Gauththam that takes your breath off. The story of a happy, rich family where the hero is always scoffed at as a good for nothing vagabond; and where the hero actually has a heart of gold, which everyone comes to know after interval, does not come every day. It came only decades ago in Vishnuvardhan’s Karna and in Suresh Krissna’s Tamil and Telugu film Aahaa (1997). And then everybody forgot those kinds of stories until Rajeev Prasad (director) came along.

What amazes you more is Synergy Images (producers) chose this ancient story as the launch pad for their entry into feature films. Come on now, if you want to copy, copy at least some good things which the audience have not seen before.

Films like Gauththam never have a novelty factor, even when this subject was made for the first time in the history of films. Right from the first shot, they are as unpredictable as the rising sun. But our family oriented Indian audience love to see big, happy families in films and that’s the reason such films are released every week in Telugu. Even in Gauththam, the narration is bloody neat and the performances are conventionally above the mark. But then, every good thing comes with an expiry date. We don’t watch such stories anymore.

Gauththam is about Prem who is constantly scolded at by his father (Anant Nag) and who doesn’t have any work to do (many people can identify themselves with Prem in these times of recession!) He takes blame for others’ mistakes and in his free time, falls in love with Sara, who is the daughter of a gambling cook, Ramesh Bhat. Obviously, Anant Nag is not delighted by this idea and insults Ramesh Bhat. The film is about how Prem marries Sara. On the other hand, there is this parallel track going on between Kokila Mohan and his former sweetheart.

No need to say it’s a happy ending where everyone in the family comes together on the top of a cliff and pose for a group photo together.

For Christ’s sake, can’t we get some semblance of change at least?

In a recent interview to a newspaper, Prem said he had been waiting for some good roles and that’s why he had been out of action for such a long time. After watching Gauththam, we feel that he should have waited a bit more! He looks handsome and acts really well. But there is such a constant sense of Déjà vu in this entire film that you feel that you have seen Prem doing this role before; even though he has never done it before.

Malayali kutti Sara’s character is confined to smiling coyly for most of the time and she is ok at that. Sudharani steals the show with her mature performance. Kokila Mohan is at par with Sudharani and I will be just repeating myself if I say how good Anant Nag and Ramesh Bhat are.

Gauththam is watchable only if you haven’t got your fill of happy go lucky family films. Go with your entire family, somebody may like it!