Erra Samudram - Review

Director cum producer R Narayana Murthy is known for making revolutionary films in Telugu Film Industry under the banner of Sneha Chitra. In his 24 years of filmy career, he has brought out 20 films under the banner. Though his earlier films are based on stories related to the injustices meted out to the poor and downtrodden and promoting revolution.

This time, he chose to bring out film in a more methodical way. He had scripted the story in such a way — how the politicians and managements of Multi-National Companies (MNCs) are robbing the rights given by the Constitution to the poor. This film highlights the need to safeguard the rights enunciated in the Indian Constitution. The director cum producer tried his best to explain that the government has no right to privatize the basic needs of the society.

Shankar (R Narayana Murty) is basically a lawyer from a lower-middle class family. He has a broad mind and always supports the working class. Once a representative from an MNC lures a ruling politician and minister that the state can prosper and earn more revenue by setting up Special Economic Zones and by giving permission to excavate the huge mineral resources in the country.

The politician agrees to that and orders seizure of assigned lands to excavate minerals. All the lands are being cultivated by poor farmers. Hence Shankar opposes the privatisation of various government companies and also the excavation of minerals by MNCs and their export to other countries.

A medico, a software engineer, a gold-medallist in MA Telugu literature and a farmer join hands with him in the fight against the government policies. The ruling party leader tries to crush their movement by ordering firing at the people, who are staging a peaceful protest. An opposition leader supports the movement. He promises that he would cancel the lease agreement of MNCs if his party is elected to the Assembly. Believing his words, they get his party elected but he too ignores the promise and continues the faulty policies of earlier government. This irks the committee set up to safeguard the mineral resources, led by Shankar. In the climax, Shankar and all the villagers surround the minister, the opposition leader, the DCP and other officials, who are supporting the privatisation and wants to bury them alive. The film ends with a message that the land should be used for cultivation and to raise crop and not to excavate the mineral resources.

PLUS: Hardly, there are any plus points. The film has nothing to boast of as all the films brought of by R Narayana Murthy would be quite similar. However, in this movie, the director cum producer chose to explain the injustices meted out to the society one after another. Like privatisation of shipyards/harbours, introduction of motor trolleys, which had hit the fishermen community, the user charges in hospitals, how the unemployed youth are turning criminals by resorting to thefts and printing of counterfeit currency notes, and finally the entry of MNCs in the country, which is robbing the mineral wealth of the country, besides the setting up of SEZs by acquiring the assigned lands from poor farmers. Those who have no newspaper knowledge and the present day situation of the society, could easily understand the injustices meted out to the society through this film. As usual Narayanamurthy played a key role in the film.

MINUS: Like all the other films under Sneha Chitra banner, in this film too, there is absolutely no comedy relief. The film is meant for only the hardcore fans of left subjects and revolutionary films and literature. All the songs scripted by 'Praja Kavulu' are again used in the film. Most of the artists in the film are stage artists and the director cum producer ably utilised their services and almost saved a lot of money towards remuneration if he chose the regular artists. Vandemataram Srinivas has given tunes to all the songs and they are okay and suited the taste and matched the theme of the film. Camera work by M Prasad is normal.

REMARKS: Though the film reflected the mindset of the director cum producer, it appears quite routine. Only hardcore fans of R Narayana Murthy films could watch the movie.

Cast: R Narayan Murthy and other

Credits: Camera – M Prasad, Music – Vandemataram Srinivas, Dialogues – KB Anand, Lyrics – Mukkamala Nagabhushanam, Vangapandu Prasada Rao, Suddala Ashok Teja. Gorati Venkanna and Andesri, Story, screenplay and direction and production – R Narayana Murthy.

Banner: Sneha Chitra.