Sruthi Hariharan and Surya Vasishta in ‘Saramsha’
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In a brilliant scene in Surya Vasishta’s Saramsha (Summary), a publisher, Raksha (Shweta Gupta), tells the protagonist, Tejas (Deepak Subramanya), about how she wants people to see her as a Kannadiga, even if she doesn’t speak the language fluently. “But psychologically, culturally… this (Karnataka) is my home. It (Kannada) is my literature and identity. Anywhere else, I will feel out of place,” she says.
A Bengaluru Kannadiga, who is well aware of Kannada’s legacy, yet finds it comfortable thinking in English, battles with the same identity crisis. The film, too, is about who you are and who people see you as, and has several gentle moments that make you smile.
For instance, the scene where Tejas talks to his parents through a video call is another small gem. As soon as the conversation is over, he removes the picture of his parents as his laptop wallpaper and replaces it with that of the legendary Kannada poet Kuvempu.
Saramsha (Kannada)
Director: Surya Vasishta
Cast: Surya Vasishta, Deepak Subramanya, Sruthi Hariharan, Shweta Gupta
Runtime: 130 minutes
Storyline: In the realm of magic realism, an emotional drama unfolds when Tejas, a chartered accountant and a passionate writer, meets Abhay, one of the characters of his story
The name Tejas is derived from Poornachandra Tejaswi, the renowned writer and son of Kuvempu. Apart from the subtle tribute to two literary greats, the scene reflects Tejas’ mental state. With no support for his writing dreams from his parents, Tejas seeks inspiration from the greats he grew up reading.
Tejas’ father wants his son to follow his path and become a chartered accountant. But Tejas loves writing, the world of imagination, and he is a misfit for jobs that require rational thinking and truth.
One day, Tejas opens the bathroom door and walks into another world, where he meets Abhay (Surya Vasishta) and Maya (Sruthi Hariharan), the characters of the story he is writing. While Abhay always dreams of the future, Maya lives for today. Meeting the two contrasting personalities shapes Tejas’ character and thinking.
Saramsha, with its unflashy filmmaking and minimalist background score, is a moody film. Hence, the film’s philosophical tone works for the most part. It shows the lives of interesting yet imperfect people with different life experiences. So there is ample drama, with dialogues (from Vasishta and Gantumoote director Roopa Rao) that sound relatable.
Deepak Subramanya in ‘Saramsha’
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
The film mirrors the psyche of a passionate writer. “Writing a book and publishing it feels like completing a life and being reborn again,” Abhay tells Tejas after sharing his love for the aroma of pages of a book. The actors are the film’s biggest strength, with Deepak Subramanya being the standout.
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Saramsha talks about the need to mend your turbulent relationship with your parents. It is also a tale of a youngster coming of age. Perhaps the film could have taken more risks with the idea of surrealism, but the director’s well-meaning intention drives him to close all the chapters of his characters, denting the intriguing nature of the movie. That said, Saramsha has enough to offer an immersive experience for those who love to ruminate about life.
Saramsha is currently running in theatres.