Here's something I've never done before. I've never written a movie review. I didn't feel the need to do so, until now. My first reaction after watching Ugramm was an overwhelming desire to pick my pen up and scribble. The movie was up against a mighty torrent I'd created in my mind. Some strong elements threatened to erode it away: a language I can barely speak or understand (having seen only one other Kannada movie which severely failed to impress me), an arrogant bias towards Telugu and English cinema, a subject that doesn't necessarily catch my fancy and the strongest gust of it all in the form of humongous expectations set. And what do you know, Ugramm has not only survived the storm but stands tall and unhinged! This is my take on the movie:
If I were to comment on Ugramm in one sentence it would be this: "It felt like one big movie trailer!" It was so fast-paced it seemed as though an invisible man was lashing his whip to make the scenes bolt. But mind you, the integrity of the movie wasn't compromised for agility. The second half of it gripped me to such an extent that I uncreased my brows only when the end titles set in. Prime aspects like dialogues and portrayal of heroism were so exhaustive I was left wondering if the director had anything left in his bowl for his future movies. The movie is an amusement park for action-film lovers. The roller-coaster ride that this is, will leave anyone gasping for breath and with the thrill of an adventure.
The background score is one of the best I've witnessed in regional cinema. It's thunderous swing fits hand in glove with the gangster theme and gallantry of the hero. But the crown jewel is 'Ugramm Veeram'. It's powerful effect left it resonating in my head long after the movie. It takes all my will to resist humming it aloud lest I sound masculine.
The role of Agastya in itself deserves many laurels. Unsure if it was intended, this role seemed tailor-made for Srimurali. It's difficult to imagine another actor pull this challenging role off with the élan that he has. If I were a guy, I'd walk out of the theatre charged and with a resolve to carry myself with the same cool and suave demeanor that Agastya did. I'm unfamiliar with the Kannada cinema industry, but based on what I saw, I would say Srimurali ranks high amongst the lead actors and definitely one who is on top of his game.
Notwithstanding Srimurali's talent, the brownie points should go to the director. What Agastya is to Bala on screen, Prashanth is to Srimurali offscreen. His vision is what makes this robust character memorable. This is just one thread out of the spectacular tapestry he has woven. His creativity and technique are prodigious making it difficult to believe he's a debutant director with minimal experience in movie-making. His product could challenge even the best of this industry's veterans.
Let's talk negatives. I'm being really nit-picky here in the spirit that even the best of cinema is not perfect. Firstly, in my opinion the lead actress failed to bring the kind of quality to the table that is required of a mammoth that Ugramm is. However, in a world where only glamour sells, her bare look sans make-up is as refreshing as cold lemonade on a sweltering afternoon. The second point is what I would call a positive-negative in the form of overpowering and snappy action scenes in the second half of the movie. Don't mistake me, I'm a sucker for action flicks but I would've rather the scenes be interspersed with at least a few periods of lull. This would've made the movie much smoother and not as choppy. Thirdly, the comedy was a tad bit crass and didn't work too well for me. For an intense movie like Ugramm, provision of crafty comic relief is essential. Finally, watching the movie just once is insufficient to understand the intricacies of the plot. One has to give it two or three times before getting a complete understanding of the finer details. For a movie like this, not such a bad thing after all!
The negatives, if they are negatives at all, are trivial in comparison with the stupendous quality that Ugramm has showcased. This is the first Kannada movie that will find a place in my coveted movie collection. And it is going to be amongst the select few that will not gather dust!
