Kodagaana Koli Nungiththaa is the opening line of a Tathvapada (moral poem) written by saint, poet and social reformer Shishunaal Sherifa of nineteenth century Karnataka.
But Jaggesh and Pooja Gandhi starrer of the same title has nothing to do with the poem or its philosophical overtones. This film is a remix of films like Venkatesh-Katrina Kaif starrer Malleshwari in Telugu and Bhagyaraj directed Oru Ooril Oru Raja Kumari in Tamil.
But Vasu claimed the story as well as the screenplay as his own. It is also true that these two films had borrowed the theme from the Hollywood film, Roman Holiday.
Kodagaana Koli Nungiththaa has followed the narrative pattern adopted by Malleshwari in the first half. Vasu has gone easy with the script and has not tampered it.
To his credit, he has been able to select some talented artists too. But it looks as if he has no control over his artists and has allowed them to do anything they please. Look at the way Rangayana Raghu irritatingly scratches his whole body in every scene. The first half of the film is full of comical sequences with vulgar dialogues while the second half lacks seriousness required for the film's story content.
The story revolves around a middle-aged bachelor Balu who tries to find a match after discharging all his responsibilities. His search for an ideal partner often ends up with egg on his face. He accidentally meets Lakshmi but she is being chased by a gang of crooks who have an eye on her property. Balu then tries to save Lakshmi.
Jaggesh has done his best with his trade mark antics and dialogue delivery. Pooja Gandhi carries off a swimsuit quite well. Her performance in the second half is good too.
Comedy artists like Sadhu, Sharan and Nagashekhar have done justice to their respective roles though Rangayana Raghu as the villain is irritating.
Nothing exceptional can be said about the cinematography of Dasari Seenu while Sadhu Kokila has just rehashed many Hindi tunes.
On the whole, an average fare.
Rediff Rating: