• Chetan Nadiger
Film: Kite Brothers
Producers: BS Manjunath, Rajanikanth Rao Dalavi and Manjunath Bagade
Director: Veeren Sagar Bagade
Starring: Praneel Nadgir, Samarth Aashi, Vinod Bagade, Ananth Deshpande, Prabhu Hanchinal, Shreya Harihar, Rajiv Singh Halavayi and others.
Off late, saving Government Schools have become the main theme of many children films in Kannada. This week’s release ‘Kite Brothers’ is another film in the marquee. Though the intention is same, ‘Kite Brothers’ is informative, engaging and motivating.
‘Kite Brothers’ tells the story of the bond between Srirama and Hanumantha, two friends residing in a secluded village close to Dharwad. While, Srirama hails from a relatively affluent family and goes to an English medium school, Hanumantha is from a lower middle-class family. Hanumantha attends the nearby Kannada-medium government school, which is solely managed by a devoted teacher whose looks closely resemble that of Jnanapeetha Awardee Da Ra Bendre.
The school collapses due to a heavy rainfall one night and the teacher tries to build the school again. Due to lack of money and support from government authorities, the building of the school gets delayed. The boys discover details regarding a national-level kite flying event in Ahmedabad. Wanting to obtain the funds required for fixing the school, they silently depart from the village without notifying anyone to participate in the competition. What happens next forms the crux of the film.
One of the highlights of the film is, the film draws a comparison to the Ramayana, in which Hanuman is crucial in saving Sita from Ravana. In this instance, Hanumanthu, backed by Sriram, fights against that system to attain a worthy goal. Apart from the fight to save the Government school, the movie additionally highlights every day relatable experiences like school infatuations, friendly competition and the little pleasures that define village youth.
Another notable feature of ‘Kite Brothers’ is its genuine incorporation of the Uttar Kannada dialect and the countryside environment. The movie showcases primarily new actors, but their genuine and spontaneous portrayals make the film more apt and engaging.
Praneel Nadgir and Samarth Aashi deliver performances that are genuine and emotional. Ananth Deshpande, in the role of the schoolmaster, is a genuine treat for the viewers. Supporting actors contribute admirably. The songs in the film are crafted elegantly, featuring excellent lyrics and catchy melodies. Composer Anish Cherian demonstrates significant potential for a successful future in music. The work of veteran cinematographer Ashok Kashyap stands out as another significant asset. The scenes of the kite competition are portrayed well.
‘Kite Brothers’ is an engaging film that focuses on a social issue, highlighting the importance of the educational system and showcasing genuine friendship, turning it into an essential viewing experience for audiences.
