Ekadhantha is the first Kannada film directed by Sachin, who already popular in Hindi and Marathi cinema as an actor and film-maker. He is also a popular face on television.
This entertainer is bound to make people laugh, though it gets a little religious and sentimental towards the end. Sachin shows his brilliance in writing a script that has room for good performances, engaging moments and lots of comedy.
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The strength of Ekadhantha is its script, greatly influenced by the Hindi film Bombay To Goa (in turn a remake of the Tamil Madras To Pondicherry). However, the religious element was missing in the Hindi film directed by S Ramanathan.
Ekadhantha starts with the story of childless couple Ramesh and Prema, who decide to go on a pilgrimage to Ganapathipura to fulfill a vow. They begin their journey in a bus that happens to have a fun loving conductor. What happens in the bus forms the major part of the story.
The first 20 minutes of the film are slow; the pace only picks up with the arrival of Vishnuvardhan, the bus conductor, who gives a lively and energetic performance that will be remembered for a long time. Ramesh and Prema have also performed with ease. Most of the other artistes -- the ensemble numbers more than 30 -- have all contributed to elevate the comedy to a level that can be enjoyed by the family.
Besides Sachin's direction, it is Guru Kiran's music which is the high point of the film. The songs Bandal badaayi maadhava and Ee sonta nodu have already become very popular. The background score too is good.
Cameraman work by P K H Doss is breathtaking.
Ekadantha simply rocks -- it's an enjoyable film all the way.
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