Guru Prasad hits bull's eye once again with a perfect film in Eddelu Manjunatha. It is an apt film for actor Jaggesh [Images], now in his 25th year in the Kannada film industry.
Jaggesh is certainly the most talented actor in the Kannada film industry today. But unfortunately, he is bogged down by his own style, mannerism and dialogue delivery. Guru has successfully kept Jaggesh away from his mannerisms and irritating facial expressions. Here we see Jaggesh at his best living the role of a lazy, good-for-nothing husband, who wastes his time doing nothing. His portrayal is so real that you may feel you know people like him in real life.
What is so special about the film is that Jaggesh utters his dialogues with a straight face but they make the audience roar in laughter. Guru Prasad's dialogues are so natural and funny that you sympathise with Manjunatha's wife even while you laugh listening to his dialogues.
True, Guru has a fixation for double entendre. Take for example, the dialogue between Jaggesh and Tabala Naani, a blind person in the film. Jaggesh asks Naani how it has been possible for him to eat so perfectly despite his failed eyesight. Pat comes the reply: 'I have a friend who is also blind. But he has two children.'
It is better for Guru to come out of the this and write some powerful dialogues which can have good impact. Whatever it is, the audience seems to love what he has written. The minor irritants include the sequences where the grandmother feeds her grandchild brandy and the way the father and son address each other.
The story revolves around Manjunatha, a drunkard and a lazy brat. He does not move from his cot but talks nonstop. Despite his wife trying her best to reform him, Manjunatha does not change and continues with his wayward habits. He is always in the company of his worthless friends. Finally, Manjunatha realises that life is much more than all that, and decides to reform.
Jaggesh's brilliant performance apart, the film also showcases Yagna Shetty as a talented actress.
Music director V Manohar returns to acting in a special role. Tabala Naani, who had a wonderful role in Guru's first film Mata, proves that he is a very good actor whose talent is still untapped. The songs written by Guru himself are apt and meaningful.
Go and enjoy the laugh riot.
Rediff Rating: 
