Lucia - A Trip to Surreality

There's already enough said about this out-of-nowhere Kannada film that suddenly appeared on the screens after two years of its making and successfully crossing the hurdles that awaited its release. I felt to contribute my share of a review too, as a mark of appreciation and a tribute to the Director, Pawan Kumar.

The reason I called it out-of-nowhere is justifiable. Especially in times when the movie screens are smeared and splattered with blood and the speakers loudly and proudly emitting a cacophony of 'double meaning' dialogues, Lucia disappoints you if you came in expecting just another product out of the Kannada film framework of 6 songs, 4 fights, 5 comedy tracks and a climax that would take the toll of a few vehicles and people, gradually and predictably. A Kannadiga would be able to relate with me better with this analogy: 'It's more like having lemon rice everyday - morning, noon, and night - only in a different plate, different rice, different spice or whatever you add to it, but mind you, it's still the same Lemon Rice.'

The Kannada industry, no offence, had at a point reached a state where they would no longer be able to cater anything else from their creative cuisine, except that everybody is trying to cook the same dish in their own ways. Competition, you see, we need high octane stunts, powerful dialogues, mass songs, duet songs, item songs, comedy tracks - all of it in a single course. Bring in the actresses from the non-Kannada industry, even if it means Pakistan or Europe. No offence, that's wonderful experimentation, tastes definitely good! But the problem is, my friends, it's the same dish and we're all tired of it. We've lost sense of our 'tastes', just gobbling up whatever that you've been serving us like there was no other delicacy that could exist in this industry that once nourished and cherished giants who carried upon their shoulders the responsibility and meaning of entertainment.

Lucia doesn't have any of it, for it's a wholly different film in itself. It feels more like watching a foreign film for its offbeat storyline and style of narration. The actors have performed naturally, without much of dramatic overtures. Overall, the execution is neat and crisp, though some sequences may appear to bore you. But pay attention, for everything is connected.

From the reviews I read about Lucia, I came across people commending it and others dissatisfied. I overheard someone in the interval at the loo saying that he understood nothing and had come in thinking it could have been a comedy. Maybe because Satish Neenasam played the lead, who usually would appear in comic roles. There were also words that said it was not for everybody or for the mass audience. I would not agree with this point because in an era of making 'commercial' movies solely in the pretext of 'entertaining' people, coming out with a subject that would make you pay attention, think and scrutinize the story as you watch it, and finally, let you judge the end for yourself, is where Pawan Kumar excels at. And that's making you taste something different. You know you starved for it, your taste buds craved for it, and you longed for quality entertainment in your mother tongue, while straying around watching the movies of other languages that you thought were more entertaining.

Pawan Kumar has done a fine job at it. He has retained his creative freedom and put across his point the way he wanted to. True, this film is not meant for everyone, especially if you came in expecting the same old 'Chitranna', I bet you'd be disappointed. Rather, he takes you on a ride of alternate realities, keeping you hooked all the way, grabbing your interest and 'surprising' you in the end. Be gone with the spoon feeding and let it take your course. Delve into it and experience it. Do not expect anything out of it, but just let Lucia consume you! Thank you, Pawan Kumar, for respecting our time and valuing entertainment.

If you haven't watched Lucia, this could be the right time, for it may not stay in theatres for long, owing to the queue of bigger banners lined up. If you miss it, good luck to you with more 'Chitranna'!