Sapta Sagaradache Ello — A Review

Perils of not accepting oneself

Note: This writeup is a collective commentary on Side A and Side B of the movie (i.e. both parts of the movie)

The Inspiration

The verses of the famous Kannada poet Gopalakrishna Adiga probably inspire the movie's title. This song was taught to us during music class at school. It has a very deep meaning. I shall quote only the first three paragraphs of the poem.

ಯಾವ ಮೋಹನ ಮುರಳಿ ಕರೆಯಿತು
ದೂರ ತೀರಕೆ ನಿನ್ನನು
ಯಾವ ಬೃಂದಾವನವು ಸೆಳೆಯಿತೋ
ನಿನ್ನ ಮಣ್ಣಿನ ಕಣ್ಣನು

yaava mohana murali kareyitu
doora teerake ninnanu
yaava brindavanavu seLeyitu
ninna minchina kaNNanu

Which enchanting flute called you towards the distant shore?

Which garden lured your earthy eyes?

ಹೂವು ಹಾಸಿಗೆ ಚಂದ್ರ ಚಂದನ
ಬಾಹು ಬಂಧನ ಚುಂಬನ
ಬಯಕೆ ತೋಟದ ಬೇಲಿಯೊಳಗೆ
ಕರಣಗಳದೀ ರಿಂಗಣ

hoovu hasige chandra chandana
bahu bandhana chumbana
bayake toTada beliyoLage
karaNagaLadee ringaNa

Flowerbeds, moonlight, a lover’s kiss in embrace

Distractions within the fences of the garden of desires are echoing in your ears

ಸಪ್ತ ಸಾಗರದಾಚೆ ಎಲ್ಲೋ
ಸುಪ್ತ ಸಾಗರ ಕಾದಿದೆ
ಮೊಳೆಯದಲೆಗಳ ಮೂಕ ಮರ್ಮರ
ಇಂದು ಇಲ್ಲಿಗು ಹಾಯಿತೇ

sapta sagaradaache yello
supta sagara kaadide
moLeyadalegaLa mooka marmara
indu illigu haayite

Beyond the seven seas lies a dormant ocean

Has the rustle of silent waves reached your doorstep ?

The poem questions the individual who has been sucked into chaos because of his desires and craving for a better lifestyle.

This is the philosophical crux of the duology “Saptha Sagaradache Ello”. The idea is brilliant. I loved the movie, the music and the acting. But somehow, I am unhappy with certain decisions with the plot line.

Let’s dive in.

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Nostalgia

For the first time, a movie took me back to the days when I was listening to the tape recorder at home. Whenever I performed puja under my mom or grandfather's guidance, we played devotional songs in the background.

During those days (early 2000s), there was no smartphone. MP3 players were around, but we didn’t have that at home.

Instead of calling two parts of the movie “Part 1/Part 2” or “Chapter 1/ Chapter 2”, the makers have called it “Side A/ Side B”(like a tape-recorder cassette).

This made me feel nostalgic about my childhood.

The Summary

The story revolves around a lower-middle-class guy who accepts responsibility for a crime he did not commit to ensure a better future for himself and his partner. Everything that happens after this is a result of this bad decision.

The entire story has layers and intricacies to it. There are interesting explorations of human emotions like love, greed, revenge and sacrifice in the movie. Anything I say beyond this would be a spoiler. (However, I might hint at certain plot elements while putting across a point).

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Triple Attack

There are multiple types of villains plotting against the foolish protagonist in this movie.

1. A super rich villain who wears the mask of a saviour.

2. A middle-class villain who sees the protagonist as a stepping stone.

3. A third-class villain who seeks sheer pleasure in torturing the protagonist.

I find this triple attack quite interesting for Indian cinema (where the fight is generally two-way—one villain and one protagonist).

Sidenote: The research done around jail life and the visual portrayal of it is absolutely brilliant.

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Triangular Drama

In the second part of the movie, the protagonist comes out of jail. He deals with his carnal desires by approaching a sex worker (while still being in love with his past partner). Eventually, there’s a romantic trauma bond created between the sex worker and the protagonist.

This is fucked up at many levels. Maybe they should have sent this guy to therapy. On top of this, a former jail friend turns into an enabler, watching and aiding all idiotic things done by the protagonist.

Sidenote: I appreciate the attention to detail given to the lives of sex workers. It is hard to find a movie that portrays this ostracised community empathetically.

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My Thoughts

The whole drama starts because the lead actor cannot accept his economic status and live according to his own values. He takes the risk even though the woman in his life is satisfied with their relationship already.

Whatever he did was unnecessary. He had to accept himself or choose legitimate paths to climb the economic ladder. Or maybe that’s the whole point of the movie: about people trying to seek greener pastures despite having almost everything necessary to lead a good life.

I went through the emotional roller coaster as I watched the movie. But when I took a step back and observed it from a logical lens, I realised that it is just another fucked up portrayal of love in Indian Cinema.

Should You Watch It?

Go ahead and watch it as a piece of art and recognise the flimsy grounds on which the love story is built. But if you’re emotionally vulnerable and going through some sorta breakup, then don’t watch it.