Sampathige Savaal

Sampathige Saval
Film poster
Directed by	A. V. Seshagiri Rao
Produced by	A. N. Murthy
Written by	B. P. Dhuttharagi
Screenplay by	Chi. Udaya Shankar
Based on	Sampathige Savaal by B. P. Dhuttharagi
Starring	Rajkumar Vajramuni Manjula
Music by	G. K. Venkatesh
Cinematography	R. Chittibabu
Edited by	P. Bhaktavatsalam
Production company	Padmashree Enterprises
Distributed by	Padmashree Pictures
Release date	1974 (1974)
Running time	148 minutes
Country	India
Language	Kannada

Sampathige Savaal is a 1974 Indian Kannada drama film directed by A. V. Seshagiri Rao and produced by A. N. Murthy, based on a play of the same name written by Pi. Bi. Dhuttaragi.^[1] The film stars Rajkumar, Vajramuni and Manjula in lead roles. The screenplay, dialogues and lyrics for the soundtracks were written by Chi. Udaya Shankar.

The film was a musical blockbuster with all the songs composed by G. K. Venkatesh considered evergreen hits. Rajkumar debuted as a playback singer with the track "Yaare Koogadali" from the film which became an instant hit among the audiences. He would then go on to sing regularly for his films.^[2]

Plot

The film opens to a woodcutter chopping down a tree. He works for Siddappa (Vajramuni), a landlord in the village. The tree breaks at the stem and falls on him, killing him instantly. His wife Parvathamma (M. V. Rajamma) approaches Siddappa with her two children (Vishwa and Veerabhadra) and requests him to pay for the services of her deceased husband. Siddappa is however unconvinced and drives them away, which would go on to influence Veerabhadra ("Bhadra") hugely as he grows. Both children grow into hardworking men; Vishwa however works for Siddappa and stays in his good books and Bhadra grows into an easy going man with the least amount respect for Siddappa.

Vishwa requests Siddappa for financial help as the day of his wedding approaches, who lends him ₹1,000. The latter gets married to Mahalakshmi. Bhadra, on the other hand, angers Siddappa, his daughter Durga (Manjula) and his accountant Puttappa (Balakrishna) at every opportunity he gets. He humiliates Siddappa in front of the village crowd at a festival, which does not sit good on the latter. In another instance, he cuts strands of Durga's hair using a sickle. Siddappa reports the matter over to Bhadra's mother and brother, however adding that Bhadra molested his daughter Durga. Enraged, Vishwa drives Bhadra out of their house. Bhadra barges into Siddappa's house and threatens to molest Durga in his presence. He however exits leaving her unharmed and an impact on her.

He stays at the village temple nearby the following days, when one day his mother falls sick and expresses her desire to see him. Mahalakshmi proceeds to the temple to bring him home and takes a forest route when Siddappa who is passing by, finds her and attempts to molest her. Her screams alert Bhadra who gets involved in a fist fight with Siddappa beating him black and blue. As a new marriage proposal to Durga comes, she confesses to her father of her romantic feelings toward Bhadra. An enraged Siddappa slaps her on the face following which she runs to Bhadra at the temple and confesses her feelings to him, who initially reluctant, accepts. Hearing the news, Siddappa sends Vishwa to threaten him with a revolver, claiming it to be unloaded, however having loaded it with a bullet beforehand. Mahalakshmi reaches the spot as an argument ensues between the brothers. As she attempts to save Bhadra from the bullet fired by an unsuspecting Vishwa, she gets hit on her left shoulder. Enraged, Bhadra pursues Siddappa involving in another fist fight with him. As he is about to axe him, police arrive at the spot and arrest Siddappa on account of culpable homicide, who leaves, handing his daughter over to Bhadra.

Cast

Soundtrack

The music was composed by G. K. Venkatesh with lyrics by Chi. Udaya Shankar and R. N. Jayagopal.^[3] All the songs composed for the film were received extremely well and considered as evergreen songs.

References

External links

• Sampathige Savaal on IMDb
• Dhuttaragi, Pi. Bi (2008). Dhuttaragi avara āyda nāṭakagaḷu. India: Karnāṭaka Sarkāra, Kannaḍa Pustaka Prādhikāra, 2008. ISBN 9788177132588. A detailed study of works by playwright Dhuttaragi.