Lucia

My review: Lucia

 Pawan Kumar showed us glimpse of his immense potential with his debut "Lifeu Ishtene", which turned out to the best movie of the year 2011 in Kannada. But that movie threaded a safe path though the making was refreshing. His second venture "Lucia" was one of the most eagerly awaited movie of this year because one, everyone was curious to see whether Pawan can keep up with the good name he created with his debut flick. Two, it is the first movie made in Kannada, (if not in India) funded by audience themselves. And, three the promo posters immediately evoked curiosity when it was released due to it's bizarreness and abstractness. 

So when you enter the theater the baggage of expectations does weigh on your shoulder but 130 odd minutes later you would come out with each and every inch of those fulfilled. Pawan Kumar has gone from strength to strength from his debut movie. If "Lifeu Ishtene" was brilliant, "Lucia" is outstanding. He has dared to thread the path unexplored in Indian cinema before and has done it with aplomb. The amount of homework, acumen with which he has come out with such a "lucid" screenplay that is so simple (though a lesser mind would have ensured it ends up confusing the viewers) and comprehensible once you put the pieces together in the end, that keeps you hooked to the screen for the amount of time the movie runs, is an astounding feat. Pawan, take a bow. You are one of the future of Indian cinema. 

The clarity in the thinking with which Pawan has made this movie in spite of the financial hassles he had to go through would be a story worth celebrating. Made at a shoe-string budget of Rs 75 lakhs movie doesn't appear to have any tackiness even for a fraction of a second. This is an excellent example of how to make as much with the resources available at the disposal.  Now you wonder how come people in Tamil and Telugu movie industry are making movies with such glaring technical glitches with insane amount of money at their disposal. May be they need a crash course on this from Pawan. 

The story has many layers (literally) which keeps one engrossed. It is based on "lucid dreaming", a scientific concept in which people can remember their dreams vividly and resume it from where they left off. A condition common in people with sleep disorders, distorted sleep architecture with excessive REM sleep. If anything more is said about the story it will spoil the viewing experience of those who have not watched it yet. But one thing is sure, there is more than one surprise in store for the viewers. 

Satish Ninasam, who has played supporting role in many movies is the protagonist Nikhil. He has a challenging role to play that has many shades, layers and emotions to portray which he has managed to do with such precision. From comedy to anger to jealousy to innocence to......he has almost all the navarasas to portray. Shruthi Hariharan is another worthy addition to Kannada cinema. Not only she looks pretty, she is so natural and effortless in her acting also. Yet another actress with potential whose talents needs to be celebrated. Achyuth Kumar rocks in his supporting role. What a talent he is. Almost all the cast members have done their part excellently with natural flair. 

In Poornachandra Tejaswi's music movie has variety in its album. "Jamma jamma" is a foot-tapping dance number, "High schoolu" is an experimental number on the lines of " Yaarige Healona" while "Nee  thorebeda" is a good melody. 

Siddartha Nuni must be a talented cinematographer. With such restrictions in the movie's budget, he has managed to present to us the movie in such a glossy and suave manner. Pawan Kumar's visual sense was evident even in his first movie which gets celebrated on a higher scale this time in unison with Siddartha. Movie has a lot of shots with interesting angles that doesn't comes across as forced. 

Only glitch is Pawan's misogynistic tendencies comes out now and then which was so evident in his debut movie as well. The manner in which he has shown the protagonist's disapproval of his lover's career ambitions and later she herself repenting not listening to him in that regard and apologizing for the same is a serious glitch in an otherwise neat movie. He could have very well done without the same. In the end she becoming a "housewife" bringing lunch (albeit Pizza )  to the work place of her husband is so regressive which one didn't expect from an intelligent person who has made such a wonderful movie. 

On the whole, "Lucia" is one of the best Indian movie this year which needs all the support, a wider release and bigger reception from the pan-Indian movie loving public. After all "your small life is someone's big dream".

Bottomline: Rare gem of Indian cinema. 

4.5/5