Valavaara movie review: A simple coming-of-age tale that’s all heart and soul

Valavaara movie review: Debutant filmmaker Sutan Gowda’s film is an emotional slice-of-life drama revolving around a young boy and his missing cow. The film is in theatres now

A still from Valavaara

Valavaara movie story: Kundesi (Master Vedic Kaushal) and his younger brother Kosudi (Master Shayan) are the kids of an impoverished farmer, whose struggles go beyond being unable to provide even basic necessities for his family. The father (Malathesh HV) clearly favours his younger child, and is rather intolerant of the older one, to the extent that the young boy dreams of being strong enough to beat up his old man. As if the father’s apparent dislike for Kundesi is not bad enough, Kosudi also ensures that the former doesn’t go easy on the elder sibling. All the while, the mother (Harshitha Gowda), tries her best to shield her first born from this blatant favouritism.

But then things come to a head, when Kundesi takes their heavily-pregnant cow Gowra out to graze and can’t find her later. Scared out of his wits about how his father would react if he hears about the cow, Kundesi sets out to find her.

Valavaara movie review: It’s not often that a film comes along that evokes nostalgia and ever so gently warms the cockles of your heart. Sutan Gowda’s Valavaara is clearly one such – a simple film that is all heart and soul. Most importantly, it is engaging and emotional, making you feel an almost instant connect with the young boy, Kundesi. You feel his pain and become a co-passenger in his journey, observing from the sidelines, as he finds the strength to navigate the troubles in his life. It’s a coming-of-age tale told without melodrama.

At the heart of Valavaara is young Kundesi, played with absolute restraint and gleeful innocence by Master Vedic. For a filmmaker, the battle is half won if the cast is able to evoke a reaction in the audience. Here, for instance, Malathesh makes you feel the exact same resentment that Kundesi has, but in one swift stroke it melts away when he finally opens up about his treatment of his young son. Harshitha also beautifully captures the anguish of a parent unable to give her children anything more than a heartful of love.

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Abhay, as the neighbourhood Romeo, who develops a bond with Kundesi and helps the young boy in his mission to find the family’s cow, is the perfect foil for Vedic. Their onscreen camaraderie feels organic, as do their conversations. Manikanth Kadri’s music blends in seamlessly and elevates the film pitch perfect; never once tempted to go overboard.

The beauty of Valavaara is that it comes across as this simple, sweet and tender story of a young boy and his lost cow, and yet it is so much more. Before I watched Valavaara, I’d come across comments that the film has Ondalla Eradalla vibes. I beg to differ and, quite honestly, found this one a lot more enjoyable, even though, as the proverbial second child, I related more with Kosudi.

Valavaara movie verdict: Sutan Gowda’s film is not to be dismissed as a children’s movie. It’s a film that uses a child to tell a story of familial bonds, broken dreams, soul searching and more. The kind of slice-of-life that ought to be celebrated.

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