BENTLEE, Producer: Shwetha Balaraj Cine Enterprises, Direction: Santosh Balaraj, Music: Judah Sandhy, Cinematography: KK and Gundlupet Suresh, Cast: Santosh Balaraj, Simran Natekar, Shruthi, Charanraj, Bala Rajawadi, Ashok, Vanishri, Radha Ramachandra, Anekal Balaraj and others.
It is rather difficult to analyze a film under such extraordinary circumstances, especially when the hero, director and producer is no longer with us, and the film also features his father, Anekal Balaraj, in an important role. It is a rare and deeply emotional situation. We have seen films release after the passing of their leading actors in the past, but every such film carries a unique emotional weight. However, as they say, the show must go on.
Bentlee is a film made with considerable care and affection by the late actor-director-producer Santosh Balaraj. While the first half sets up the characters and the love story, the film truly finds its strength in the second half, which brings a series of surprises, shocks and emotional revelations.
Santosh Balaraj plays a rugged young man who is not just tough on the outside but also a Good Samaritan at heart. He has helped as many as 199 lovers overcome their problems and get married. Now, he finds himself facing the 200th love story — his own. Beautiful Kaajal falls in love with him, and the journey of their relationship becomes the central thread of the narrative. But is the path of love for Santosh and Kaajal smooth? Not at all.
The real ruckus begins in the second half. The story suddenly opens up into the flashback of the royal family of Mahalakshmi. The family’s deep desire for a child becomes the emotional centre of this portion, while the people surrounding the situation exploit it with selfish and questionable intentions.
From there, the screenplay introduces four major surprises, each of which connects the past with the present lives of Santosh and Kaajal. These revelations give the second half its impact and provide the film with several unexpected turns.
One cannot watch Bentlee without feeling the absence of Santosh Balaraj. Tall, handsome and naturally suited to action and serious roles, he has given a sincere performance. His screen presence is particularly noticeable in the emotional and intense sequences.
Simran Natekar, who many may remember from her early appearance in the INR advertisement, has now grown into a promising heroine. She delivers a terrific performance, looks convincing on screen and understands the emotional requirements of her character. Her expressions and reactions work well, particularly during the dramatic portions.
Shruthi, as the senior actress, gets a meaningful role and delivers several touching moments. Charan Raj, as her counterpart, supports her effectively and adds strength to their portions.
The biggest surprises come from Bala Rajawadi and Ashok, who is Santosh Balaraj’s brother-in-law in real life. Both deliver chilling performances and leave a strong impression.
Veteran actress Vanishri also gives a touching performance, while producer Anekal Balaraj appears briefly as a politician. His presence gains added emotional significance as this becomes his final film alongside his son, Santosh Balaraj.
On the musical front, Judah Sandhy has composed some appealing numbers. Disturb Madthalalla… and Bangariye Nanna Bangariye… stand out, while Mosa Madidrallo… adds a sorrowful emotional note. The background score is also effective and complements the mood of the film.
Cinematographers KK and Gundlupet Suresh have captured the film with appropriate colors, shades and visual textures. Their work suits both the contemporary portions and the royal-family flashback. At 114 minutes, the film maintains a reasonably compact runtime.
One of the most emotionally striking aspects of the film comes through its dialogue. The hero’s line, “Ella Huttid Mele Hogodu Life” (“After being born, everyone has to leave”), takes on an unexpectedly poignant meaning when heard in the context of Santosh Balaraj’s journey. The dialogue feels almost prophetic and becomes even more powerful because of the circumstances surrounding the film’s release.
Bentlee can therefore be watched for several reasons — its unexpected second-half twists, performances, music and emotional drama. But above all, it carries the significance of being the last film of Santosh Balaraj and Anekal Balaraj together.
That makes Bentlee more than just another film release. It becomes a remembrance of an actor, director and producer who left the film unfinished in life, but whose work has now reached the audience.
