Title: Warrior, Producer & Director: Umesh Hebbal, Music: Pranav Rao, Cinematography: Prashanth Sagara, Cast: Umesh Hebbal, Soumya Subhash, Bala Rajwadi, Rohini Kashyap, Roy Badiger, Siddu Mandya, Harshith Gowda, Bheeshma Ramaiah and others
Runtime: 119 minutes
Amidst the hustle and bustle of Kannada film releases, Warrior stands out as a film made by a new talent, Umesh Hebbal, who delivers a neat and purposeful presentation without unnecessary hullabaloo.
As a director, Umesh Hebbal has crafted a fairly engaging screenplay, with several social ideals woven into the narrative. While the issue of farmers’ sons struggling to find suitable matches forms one of the initial threads, the story gradually shifts its focus in the second half towards a more serious issue involving the good and bad elements within society.
“Ella Thangiyara Jeevanadalli Annandire Warrior” (ತಂಗಿಯರ ಜೀವದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಣ್ಣಂದಿರೇ ವಾರಿಯರ್) — this line appears prominently at the end of the film. But before reaching that point, the film presents the plight of innocent girls who become victims of brutal circumstances.
In and around Ramanathapura village, unscrupulous men use the guise of a tiger roaming in the forest to abduct school-going girls and murder them after sexually assaulting them. Director Umesh Hebbal deserves credit for handling this sensitive subject with restraint. He does not sensationalize the violence or graphically portray the atrocities, allowing the seriousness of the issue to emerge through the narrative itself.
The film also raises an important question: Why is the local administration unable to establish a school closer to the village, forcing young girls to walk nearly five kilometers to attend school? The education minister’s reluctance to establish a school for just 35 children in Ramanathapura taluk becomes another significant point in the story.
This forms one of the key issues addressed by Warrior, alongside the gentle and humane portrayal of its protagonist, Dhruva.
Dhruva is a young man who genuinely works for the betterment of his village. He is an educated, progressive farmer who, despite holding a postgraduate degree, chooses to give up a city job and return to farming and serve his parents and village.
Yet, despite being such a good human being, Dhruva struggles to find a suitable match. The humiliation and embarrassment he experiences eventually lead to a positive development in the story. His character can perhaps be summed up by the line “Prana Bidthini, but not Swabhimana” — he is willing to sacrifice his life, but not his self-respect.
Sneha, a city-based young woman, arrives in the village with her friends in search of a suitable life partner. The ideals and values demonstrated by Dhruva perfectly match what she is looking for.
What happens next, particularly in the climax, is something audiences will have to discover by watching the film.
At 119 minutes, Warrior is a compact film with a clear purpose. Umesh Hebbal, as director, understands the basic grammar of filmmaking and succeeds in presenting his subject with restraint. As an actor, he remains composed and natural in the role of Dhruva.
Soumya Subhash, in the female lead, has limited scope to showcase her acting abilities, while her friends bring some lively moments to the proceedings.
Bala Rajwadi, as village head Veerabhadra, once again wins attention with a solid performance. His portrayal is one of the film’s strengths. The character of Dhruva’s mother, played by the actress portraying Veerabhadra’s wife, is also convincing. Broker Keshava’s dialogue delivery occasionally reminds one of veteran actor Komal Kumar.
Music director Pranav Rao makes his presence felt with the song “Elli Hudukali Mayanagariyolage…” His background score is also apt and supports the mood of the film.
Cinematographer Prashanth Sagara has done a competent job, capturing both the rural setting and the atmosphere of the story effectively.
Warrior is particularly relevant to middle-class youngsters and families because it touches upon the growing trend of educated youth leaving villages in search of city life. Through Dhruva, the film presents an alternative — a young man who chooses to return to his roots, embrace farming and contribute to the development of his village.
A film with a good purpose, Warrior is neatly made and carries its message without unnecessary noise.
