Chomana Dudi (1975) :
Brief Review -
An untouchable farmer's plight and his faith in Panjurli are portrayed in an intensely realistic manner. Chomana Dudi won the National Award along with several regional honours that year for its stunning depiction of an untouchable farmer's struggle, something very close to reality. The film follows an artistic style of storytelling, far removed from mainstream cinema, which kept it away from commercial success and a large audience base. The narrative is deeply painful-at times so much that it borders on melodrama. Choma is an untouchable farmer who dreams of tilling a piece of land of his own. Despite owning a pair of bullocks, his boss never grants him land. Burdened with debt, his two sons toil far from home to repay it. Meanwhile, his daughter is lured by an estate agent, only to be later assaulted by a British estate owner. That incident indirectly helps Choma clear his debt. Broken and frustrated, he turns to his drums, losing himself in music as a way to forget his endless suffering. The story remains confined to his personal life, hardly addressing other social dimensions-which feels unsatisfactory. Moreover, the daughter's attraction to the estate agent, even after the assault, feels baffling and poorly justified. The tragic finale too offers no resistance or fight back, making it heartbreaking but not cinematically fulfilling. Yet, in its raw honesty, it mirrors the bitter reality faced by many low-caste farmers, often worse than depicted. That courage to tell the truth alone makes Chomana Dudi a staggering film for its time. The performances are strikingly natural, and the direction carries an artistic finesse. It may not become your favourite, but it will surely leave you with something profound.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
