'Toofan' - nothing extraordinary about it (Kannada Movie Review)

Film: "Toofan"; Cast: Yashas, Nakshatra, Chandan, Sadhu Kokila, Ramesh Bhat, Shivaram, Vidya Murthy, Suresh Mangalore, Pramila Joshai, Chitra Shenoy, Devadas Kappikad; Director: Smile Seenu; Producer; Jade Gowda; Camera: Ravi Suvarna; Music: Elwyn Joshua; Rating: *1/2

"Toofan" could have been a title for a Hindi film, but this Kannada film with a Hindi word as title, reminds you of Bollywood movie "Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa". Some sequences of the film remind you of Kannada film "Hrudaya Hrudaya", which was a neatly packaged sentimental film.

But "Toofan" does not boast of a well-packaged sentimental narrative as "Hurdaya Hrudaya". It just ends up as an ordinary flick with tedious narration and below-the-belt comedy sequences, which are more intolerable than a continuous tooth pain in the night.

The story is woven around Soorya and Raaji, who are deeply in love with each other. When Raaji's parents select another boy named Chandan for her, Soorya is left shocked. Raaji agrees to marry Chandan to please her parents, and tells Soorya that she will reveal her past to Chandan on the day of her marriage and convince him to let her go to Soorya.

Though reluctant, Soorya agrees to the idea.

As planned, Raaji reveals it all to Chandan, who seeks some time before he sends her to Soorya. Meanwhile, one day when Raaji wants to go out, she faces a health problem. She is admitted to a hospital, where she is diagnosed with a heart complication. Coincidentally, Soorya, who is also eager to meet Raaji, is also admitted to the hospital with a serious health problem.

Ultimately, Raaji has to undergo a heart transplant and gets it from Soorya, who loses his life after battling his ailment.

The director, Smile Seenu, a debutant, has shown his lack of creativity in writing a story and the dialogues. He has unabashedly borrowed sequences from many previous Kannada and non-Kannada films.

It would be grave injustice if such a film is said to be an original story.

Besides his unimaginative writing skills, Seenu also shows his lack of command in handling an often repeated, formulaic story of a triangular love flick. Just watch the distasteful comedy sequences and insipid romantic sequences to understand how Smile Seenu has piled up one blunder after another.

The film's low quality content is also marked by the wrong casting.

While veterans have delivered their best in the limited scope they get in the film, the two newcomers - Nakshathra and Chandan - have failed to make any impact. It becomes fairly obvious for the viewers of the film, that both these debutants required prior training in an acting school before they faced the camera.

Yashas is grooming to be a better actor and he looks tolerable on screen. But the two new faces - Nakshatra and Chandan - are a clear let down.

Ramesh Bhat and Chitra Shenoy have done well in their respective roles. But Sadhu Kokila's comical performance is painful to watch. Ravi Suvarna's camera work is mediocre.

Two tunes of Elwyn Joseph are hummable.

"Toofan" is a mediocre film made with little homework and seriousness. You can watch it only if you have no alternative.