Vidyapati movie review: Daali Dhananjaya has fun as Mr Miyagi to Nagabhushana’s Karate Kid

3/5

Vidyapati movie story: Siddu (Nagabhushana) is the ‘manager-cum-husband’ of star heroine Vidya (Malaika Vasupal), a deal he managed by crook. While he’s fixated on milking her stardom for a life of extreme luxury, simplicity is what strikes a chord with her. Vidya puts up with Siddu’s waywardness until a chance encounter with local thug, Jaggu (Garuda Ram), turns ugly for the couple, forcing her to cast him out of his comfort zone. Left to his own devices, Siddu realizes the hard way that there’s no shortcut to fighting his way back into her heart.

Vidyapati movie review: Daali Dhananjaya is four films old as a producer. He headlined two (Badava Rascal and Head Bush) and the n turned his attention to his good pal Nagabhushana. His second production venture with Nagabhushana in the lead is just what the latter needed to show that he’s capable of far more than just cracking the odd funny line. After Tagaru Palya, where Nagabhushana had to jostle for space amid a bevy of artistes, here, the focus is squarely on him and the actor does not disappoint. For the most part, Nagabhushana is in the skin of the character, except, perhaps, in the bits as heavily bejewelled Vidyapati, pulling off the spoilt rich man vibe.

The first half of the film sets up the premise quickly – Siddu aka Vidyapati’s extravagant ways, how he came to be star actress Vidya’s husband, and the altercation with a local thug. It’s not an entirely smooth ride, but not much time is wasted in establishing the mission at hand. It’s in the second that the filmmakers give the film a firmer footing. Dhananjaya’s much-awaited cameo as Anakonda is among the saving graces of the second half and the actor-producer runs riot, making the most of his stint as Mr Miyagi to Nagabhushan’s Karate Kid. Training at a scrap yard is a mighty low for Siddu, but one from which he can only rise.

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Nagabhushana is the man of the two-hour long Vidyapati. Some minor niggles apart, he gives his all to the role, which must have been physically challenging too, given that the mission is for the little guy to go up against the big one (Garuda Ram as Jaggu). The fights are good and the emotional bits also fit in decently. From being beaten to a pulp to destroying the tower by aiming for the pillars – it’s quite a ride for Nagabhushana’s character; one that is never over-the-top even while aiming to keep the atmosphere breezy.

Upadhyaksha fame Malai ka Vasupal’s casting choice is a tad questionable for the role in question. There’s a certain aura and body language that was required to convincingly play a star heroine with the Midas touch, but that was woefully in short supply. But then there’s not much of her in the larger scheme of things, what with the narrative almost entirely revolving around Nagabhushana as Siddu. Even Garuda Ram has more screen space than Malaika, lending enough gravitas to his role as Jaggu, who is menacing, and packs a mean punch, while also evoking a laugh or two.

Dharmanna Kadur and Srivatsa Shyam, whose breakout role came in 2023’s Hostel Hudugaru Bekagiddare , have precious little to do in roles that anyone could have played. Having Girish Jetti and Bindu Raxidi as Nagabhushana’s father and step-mother, respectively, was a very interesting casting decision, both actors doing utmost justice to the roles, as also the young girl roped in as his sister.

Vidyapati movie verdict: Daali Dhananjaya and Nagabhushana stick to their promise of delivering a clean family entertainer. It’s not the breath of fresh air the Kannada film industry so desperately needed, but it’s definitely a boost in the right direction. This spin on the David vs Goliath tale, with a lesson in humility thrown in for good measure, makes for a fun one-time watch and much as Nagabhushana thinks that Dhananjaya will do some of the heavy lifting, this one is all him and he’s done a decent job.