Arishadvarga movie review: A nicely done new-age noir thriller

The dissection of a relationship is the focal point of Arishadvarga, and director Arvind Kamath does a good job of highlighting the six emotions of the human mind - lust, anger, greed, attachment, ego and jealousy - in this neo-noir thriller. The movie revolves around a murder, and it is equal parts sensitive, emotional, disturbing, and challenging.

Director: Arvind Kamath

Cast: Nanda Gopal, Mahesh Bung, Samyukta Hornad, Anju Alva Naik 

Arishadvarga begins with Anish (Mahesh Bung), an aspiring actor doubling as an amateur gigolo. He receives a shocker when a wealthy and anonymous patron frames him in the murder of a well-known producer and businessman, Manjunath Bhat (Avinash). Stuck in this situation, whether Anish will be able to extricate himself forms the basis of the story.

Other players include Sakshi (Samyuktha Hornad), an aspiring actor called for an audition; Kruthi (Anju Alva Naik), the producer’s wife; and Ashok Kalburgi (Nanda Gopal), the cop investigating the murder. The film also features Gopa Krishna Deshpande as an auto driver and Aravind Kuplikar as Karthik, a young aspiring director. 

Bridging the gap between mainstream and indie cinema, director Arvind Kamath manages to highlight issues like misogyny, sexual deprivation, and male prostitution, while holding a mirror to the complicated lives of people living in cosmopolitan cities. The pace of Arishadvarga, though a bit slow, seems to be deliberate and a means to highlight the characters. The nature of the intertwined relationships takes some time for the viewer to understand. The climax, however, is sure to draw mixed reactions, and there is a hint at a possible sequel.

Anju Alva Naik, who plays the dead producer’s second wife, and Nanda Gopal, as the alcoholic cop, ably pull off difficult roles. Karthik’s character, on the other hand, needed more screen time. A special mention should be made of Sripathi Manjanabailu, who plays the role of Head Constable Raajanna. Composer Udit Haritas contributes well to the narration with a good background score and aptly placed songs.

Arishadvarga, which depicts relationships in the urban set-up, is mature and realistic in parts, and the judgement around the murder depends on the viewer’s perspective.