Premium1996 Dharmapuri review: A brutal rural drama centred on love and politics
Director Jagath’s understanding of rural politics at a grass-root level is matched by his ability to weave a good drama and extract impressive performances from his cast
Last Updated: 10.28 PM, Dec 04, 2022
Story:
In Dharmapuri, a village in Telangana, Suri is a youngster who works loyally for the sarpanch. His parents are eager to find him a match despite his reluctance. When he meets Malli at a private function, he instantly falls for her. Malli, who takes to beedi-making for a living, soon finds herself attracted to Suri. There’s opposition from several corners for their marriage but they’re determined to stay together. Just when it seems like a ‘happy-ever-after’ tale, Suri goes missing. Is Suri safe? How does Malli deal with his absence?
Review:
Films like 1996 Dharmapuri can be made when an insider gets to tell the story of his soil with conviction and paint a picture of reality minus any sugar-coating. The first thing you notice in the film is the authenticity of the directorial voice. Director Jagath knows his backdrop in and out, where his characters hail from, right from their behaviour to their language and their cultural roots. It’s this understanding of the ambience sans judgement that lends credibility to the drama, despite its familiar beats.
1996 Dharmapuri, in its first hour, is fashioned more like a Romeo-Juliet tale. While establishing the social situation of the village, the story talks of the many roadblocks the couple faces from their families for marriage and how the sarpanch stands up for them, come what may. An interesting interval block turns the story on its head and the focus shifts to the rural politics over Suri and Malli’s romance. The storytelling is almost deceptive, but it keeps you hooked to the screens.
The director Jagath uses romance as a tool to explore the ruthlessness of village politics. The story is about politics, yes, and as much about human greed. There’s enough tension in the narrative when Suri goes missing from his home and through this incident, you get to see the true picture of the village beneath the facade. The emotions are raw and the narration is focused without any forced subplots. Most of the pivotal characters have an identity and you get to hear their side of the story.
As a plot, 1996 Dharmapuri may not offer anything out of the box, but one must acknowledge it as an important document of reality within Telugu states even today. Jagath packages the story smartly through the perspective of the couple and the fact that he sets up the story in 1996 offers the viewer an opportunity to pause, reflect and smell reality from a certain distance. Except for the climax, where vengeance and gore are almost celebrated, the intent is quite appreciable.
When the film ends, what stays with you are casual verbal banters among the villages, their raw sense of humour in the Karimnagar slang, the songs that women sing while they make beedis and how they blend music and performing traditions into every aspect of their lives. There's an earnestness in everything from the performances to the cinematography and the music. The absence of known faces is an advantage because it helps the director focus on the story and its characters more.
Gagaan Viharri is a fine talent who emotes well, has expressive body language and his dialogue delivery is one of his major strengths. Aparna Devi fits the part of a village belle to perfection. However, the film truly belongs to Janardhan (of Palasa fame) as the sarpanch and his heartfelt conversations with his wife are a delight to watch. The supporting cast comprising Keshav Sanam, Busstop Koteshwara Rao, Narayana Swamy, Shankar Kalyan, Ragini, Madhumitha, Jayaprada and others provide a good foundation for the narrative.
Osho Venkat’s music is a huge asset to the film and he makes an effort to capture the true soundscape of the region without forcing a commercial flavour into the songs. Krishna Prasad, the cinematographer, uses natural locations well to enhance the impact of the visuals while Marthand K Venkatesh’s experience on the editing front is quite visible in the compact yet coherent narrative.
Full marks to the director Jagath for attempting to tell a story like the 1996 Dharmapuri but like most Telugu films, it puts the caste angle on the back burner. Lines addressed to the sarpanch (by the villagers), like, “we want you as a leader for the next 100 years,” don’t appear in good taste. Yet, that doesn’t make 1996 Dharmapuri any less of an achievement.
Verdict:
1996 Dharmapuri is an engaging rural drama narrated with the authenticity of an insider. The director Jagath uses cinematic liberties efficiently to paint an accurate picture of the reality in villages. Gagaan Viharri, Aparna Devi and Janardhan come up with impressive performances while Osho Venkat’s music stands out as well.