Guru Shishyaru Movie Review: Kho-Kho gets a soulful rebirth

It is said that ‘Sports do not build character…they reveal it’. With Guru Shishyaru, writer and director Jadeshaa K Hampi has used this saying as his core and built a story around the game of our land, kho-kho. The film touches upon many facets of feelings like greed, jealousy, failure, victory, desperation, emotions, camaraderie, and above all, the relationship that is considered sacred, the one between a guru (teacher) and shishya (student).

Set in the 90s, the film steers clear of typical melodrama, making it a realistic depiction of the game. The commendable effort by Jadeshaa, is ably supported by the creative inputs of Tharun Kishore Sudhir.

Cast: Sharan, Nishvika, Dattanna, Suresh Heblikar, and Apurva Kasaravalli

Director: Jadeshaa K Hampi

The film’s timeline is between 1994-95 and tells the tale of Manohar K aka MK (Sharan) and his students. Living in Mysuru, he develops a great bond with his guru (Dattanna), but leads a carefree life. After much persuasion by his guru, he joins as a PT teacher in a school at Bettadapura. While the job was nothing more than a source of income and experience, it turns out to be a gamechanger in his life. MK develops a bond with the students of that town, who eventually get trained in the game. The turn of events comes in the form of Rudrappa (Apurva Kasaravalli) who seeks ownership of the entire village. How MK along with his students tackle Rudrappa’s greed with kho-kho and win over the audience is told with a wave of emotions and a realistic view of the sport.

The first hour introduces us to various characters and the 90s backdrop. As it builds by establishing the life of the villagers, the condition of the schools, and how the students’ mindset is, the second half is where the game of kho-kho comes to the foreground. It is commendable that the film gives a realistic depiction of spirited youth life.

The director presents a new perspective on the not-so-popular desi sport. Though the second half is filled with the game, the excellent narrative filled with a competitive atmosphere keeps the engagement factor up. The characters are so relatable and they don’t fail to entertain, thanks to the punch dialogues of Maasti. Most characters are etched out well, and the relationship between a teacher and students is well portrayed.

Sharan stands out as MK, probably one of the best roles of his lifetime. The actor who comes across as a mischievous youngster later becomes a disciplined PT master and makes the audience emotional during the climax. It is also refreshing to see him undergo a makeover and sport a moustache. While he is the soul of Guru Shishyaru, the film also brings in the different aspects of a teenager’s life and the roles played by new talents make it relatable.  Debutants include Hruday, Eknath, Surya, Harshith, Rakshak, and Manikanta Nayak, and Asif Mulla, Sambhashiva, Sandesh, Sagar, Rudragowda, Anup Ramana, and Amith B, who carry the film on their shoulders. The film’s one of the major plus points is that it is shouldered by commendable acting by both notable and upcoming actors. The roles played by Dattanna and Suresh Heblikar add value to the film. Mahantesh Hiremath, the sidekick to the hero, also serves the much-needed support to Sharan. Nishvika shines as a village girl and has delivered a memorable performance. As a fan of Ravichandran, she also adds a lot of grace and elegance, especially in the song 'Aane Madi'. Ajaneesh B Loknath’s music and Arooru Sudhakar Shetty’s cinematography add a lot of value to the film.

Guru Shishyaru is a highly effective film that has a strong message for the students and it is sure to take the adults on a nostalgic trip to their school and college days. On the whole, Guru Shishyaru is a soulful tribute to the once-famous kho-kho.