Guru Deshpande's Kannada film, Varasudhaara, is a mix of Mario Puzo's best-selling novel, Godfather and Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar.
Veteran journalist, noted television personality and part-time radio jockey Ravi Belagere plays an underworld don in Varasudhaara. Despite his best efforts, his dialogue delivery is like the way he anchors his popular television show, Crime Diary. Ever since Ganesh became a popular star, it seems to have become a trend to introduce popular TV anchors in lead film roles.
Of course, Ravi Belagere has acted in Ganda Hendathi earlier but the film had not made any impact. He improves slightly here, but he has a long way to go before he becomes a good actor.
Deshpande has crafted an illogical story where an underworld don brings a semblance of order in the society. By projecting underworld dons as saviours of society and glorifying them, Deshpande seems to be sending a wrong signal.
His script has some terrible sequences too. You have the don's son romancing a girl, even as his father lies in hospital, in a critical condition. In another sequence, the don tells a helpless minister that his henchmen would close down a bar if the government does not act on the complaints of the people.
The story revolves around underworld don Shakthi Prasad, whose son Daksha dislikes his father's activities. He keeps away from his father until he realises that his father is the darling of the masses.
Newcomer Sandeep is totally inept. He fails miserably in the action sequences. Another weak link in the film is Ashwini, the film's leading lady. Veteran actors Dattanna and Suchindra Prasad do quite good well.
Rajesh Ramanath's music is uninspiring. Shekhar's cinematographic work is just about okay.
Rediff Rating: 
