Channel wars are a modern reality. The high and mighty manipulate the media to settle personal scores with opponents. Most political battles are fought in TV studios. And he who has greater control over the airwaves is the ultimate winner. This tragic scenario is all too real today.

Now, imagine this situation tackled by a Suresh Gopi film directed by K Madhu, a man with a proven track record for making some of the most memorable thrillers of Malayalam cinema. You expect at least an average film bordering on realism. But, while you get accustomed to the chilly and darkened atmosphere of the theatre, the realisation slowly dawns that your expectations are too optimistic.

Pathaka is rumoured to be made to resurrect the image of a fallen real life political leader following a sex scandal, but this childish attempt certainly defeats its purpose.

There is a progressive young Minister of Industries with an impressive lineage; our hero, he is honest and incorruptible. These qualities are reason enough for him to be an eyesore for his opponents within the coalition government as well as without. Corruption charges are repeatedly levelled against him, with the aim of dethroning him from the coveted second-in-command position. When these tactics fail, his foes plant a sleazy smear campaign with the help of a TV channel, resulting in him being compelled to submit his resignation. He then pays them back in the same coin by starting his own channel.

Suresh Gopi, as the hero George Tharian, tries his best to make something out of this wasted film. He has the dialogues, the so-called punch lines, but they fail to put any pep into the proceedings. The much publicised presence of Sheela as his mother (in an Indira Gandhi [Images] get-up!) is wasted as she makes only sporadic appearances; the actress deserved better. For the last few months, Sai Kumar has only played negative characters. Here too, he repeats himself, even though it is after a contrived about-face.

The problem is Pathaka does not tackle the subject convincingly. It doesn't dwell on the inner workings, the compulsions and motivations behind the ever growing 'visual media' (despite throwing the term at us quite a few times), with a new channel mushrooming every fortnight. This is when we miss the days when films like Pathram (starring Suresh Gopi and Manju Warrier) were made.

Yet another disappointing Onam release.

Rediff Rating: