Director Vijaya Prasad transitioned from television to films with his State-award winning feature debut Sidlingu in 2012. The film centred on a youngster’s infatuation and tracked his coming-of-age journey.
Apart from some melodious tracks, Yogi’s earnest performance was the film’s highlight. It was refreshing to see Ramya, a much sought after actor during that period, play an unconventional heroine as she realistically portrayed the role of a school teacher.
Sidlingu was about the titular character losing his loved ones as he pursued his passion for cars. The rawness with which the film unfolded was a welcome change for the Kannada audience. Vijaya Prasad’s bold choices paid dividends in his sophomore film, Neer Dose, in which three odd-ball characters came together to challenge the society that treats them as misfits.
However, his subsequent movies (Petromax and Thothapuri were forgettable while Thothapuri 2 just about worked) suffered from a similar template. The films resembled each other so much that the bored audience cried for change. Unfortunately, their hope for something different from Sidlingu 2, Vijaya Prasad’s latest offering, will be dashed.
Before the film’s release, the director repeatedly spoke about wanting to correct the mistakes that caused his previous films to bomb at the box office. He promised people that his future films would be devoid of lines laced with innuendo.
Perhaps, a little introspection would have made the director realise that adult comedy is his strength. The genre is explored sporadically in Kannada cinema. Vijaya Prasad failed to succeed in the genre thanks to his love for excessive usage of double entendre, resulting in his products appearing stale.
The sequel to his debut film is also about the protagonist’s love for cars. In the movie, Sidlingu wishes to get back his dream car, which he lost in the first film. Like in all Vijaya Prasad films, a bunch of contrasting people come together to help the protagonist in his pursuit. Of course, the director continues to write lonely characters from the lower stratas of society (a housemaid, a cemetery caretaker etc).
ALSO READ: Interview | Natesh Hegde on Berlin-bound ‘Vagachipani’ (Tiger’s Pond) and teaming with Anurag Kashyap
Vijay Prasad attempts his first “clean comedy” and delivers a bland sequel with hardly any high points. The situations and some gags are silly, to say the least. The director also needs to let go of his habit of using films as a platform to preach. In Sidlingu 2, the protagonist doesn’t let go of a chance to advise people about respecting women, being generous in life, and controlling their greed.
The background score, shot compositions, and production value resemble a television serial. Time and again, cinema has proven that it’s difficult for directors to bank on their past success. Sidlingu 2 is yet another example.
Sidlingu 2 is currently running in theatres
Published – February 14, 2025 06:18 pm IST
Indian cinema
/
Kannada cinema
