Saturday, 19 June 2021

Karnan

 

Story start with tragic plot when a young girl suffering from fits lying helpless in the middle of the road, vehicles continue to ply from both side of her but no one stop to help her. She dies on the road without medical help. In a village a little donkey hops on the road, its fronts legs tied with a rope. No one has notice, they assume legs tied to prevent little donkey from running, going where its heart it.  The director frequently shows the human legs in the film, it has indicator of restriction or oppression by the society. It is unfair to measure film on story & logic of narration, it is experience emotionally & visually. It is revoked against unspeakable atrocities & cast hierarchy.



Director use Kite & donkey a two element of society which represent oppressor and victim. The general perception is that the donkey, known to be a beast of burden and closely associated with the working class, is a stupid creature. Where as kite show inflated pride of people in power who snatch the human rights of people. The “Bus Stop” symbolism the human rights & right to live for people in Society. Ride of an elephant & horse show mentality of society, The villagers are economical backward, surrounded by unhealthy environment, illiteracy & superstition all are shown in different-different symbol. 

Vandalism by villagers is the reaction of heavily persecuted community, Karnan is symbol of their anger. He was fearless & he hit back when needed to inflated pride of people in power. What Karnan wants? Karnan wants right full place in the society, he wants self-respect, he wants identity, he want humanity, he wants right to Live. But oppression can be insidious & how bureaucracy & system stand by side of oppressor & even take a part of oppression. System sponsor violence is the post-independence oppression. Karnan fights against it for his & his people self-respect.



The film is corelated with the “MahaBharta” at some places like Names of characters, “Karnan, Draupadi, Kannabiran(another name of Lord Krishna), Duryodhana”, also the tradition like chopping fish into two pieces. Karnan chop fish & win the village sword. It make him hero of the village & leader of new generation. The dilemma of Karnan was same as of Arjuna in Mahabharta, where Kranan has to choose the state or his people. He initially allows himself to be persuaded to leave, but returns to avenge his people. He is not only committed to the village but to a greater cause. As Karnan draws to an end, Kaatu Pechi ( The child who dies at the begging came back as goddess) celebrates. It is that stark image that we are left with, a child who turned into a goddess because of injustice meted out to her, and remains amidst them & within them.   

Viraj Devdikar

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