Ugramm
Kannada (A) ¬¬¬
Director: Prashanth Neel
Cast: Sriimurali, Haripriya, Padmaja Rao, Tilak, Atul Kulkarni, Avinash and others
Actor Murali or Srimurali or Sriimurali (as he prefers to be known now with the extra i!) turned a corner for creative satisfaction in Loosegalu when his choices were looked at with sympathy and even derision. At the time, the title of this film too brought out yawns by the dozen. But debutant Prashanth Neel strikes it rich with Ugramm.
After the disappointment of Chhatrapati, and to an extent Gharshane, action buffs and fans of blood and gore will be a satisfied lot, watching Ugramm. While the hard-core dramatics student has little to complain about.
The screenplay is a beauty (compared with the recent efforts in this genre) and dialogues (here too the sound design competes with that of Gharshane, drowning out the sounds coming out of the actors’ mouths) do their job very well. They show that even while showcasing the dark side of society, vulgarity can be avoided – testimony to both Neel and Sriram Lakshman’s care and skills.
Ravi Basrur’s music adds to the noisy assault upon the ears. So much so that the two soft numbers are rarely heard and registered by those unaware of the merits and demerits of this film. Ravivarman’s cinematography is sharp and tailormade for all the stunt and action scenes. Srikanth’s editing startles in places — the pace is so fast and if attention slips, the narrative leaves viewers far behind.
Ugramm is watchable for its actors, including leads Sriimurali and Haripriya. Back after a ‘hiatus’, both perform with a sense of freedom absent previously. Sriimurali’s ‘hungry’ expression helps him nail this role better than others. Make-up-less Haripriya is refreshing as well. Tilak, Atul Kulkarni, Avinash, Padmaja Rao and most others have small roles but the sum of small parts makes up for a wholesome impact, thanks again to the screenplay.
Feelings/emotions are given their rightful screentime without testing the audience. Attention paid is loud in every frame with the art department topping the fabulous work done by the action directors and choreographers.
An overdose of violence to simple-minded families, Ugramm, however, is a treat for those looking for instant kicks.