Kannad Gothilla movie review: Flawed execution and unnecessary detours kill an honest intention

RJ-turned-director Mayuraa Raghavendra’s Kannad Gothilla could have dealt with the intense subject of passion for one's language in a subtle way to stress the importance of knowing the local language. Instead, he burdens the story with a crime angle, which only sends an erroneous message. While the intention is honest, the execution is flawed.

Mayuraa’s stated aim is to assert the fact that almost every second person residing in Karnataka, especially Bengaluru, is an outsider to the state as well as the language. With no compulsion to learn the local language, non-Kannadigas usually get away with just two words — Kannad Gothilla.

Stressing on the correct usage — it is not Kannad, it is Kannada — the crux of Kannad Gothilla revolves around eight people, all of them non-Kannadigas, who go missing. Among them are those who have taken a ride on a cab driven by Manjunath (Dharmanna). A patriotic Kannadiga, he often has to interact with people who do not understand the local language, and loses his temper when he hears the two words — Kannad Gothilla.

What starts as a normal case of missing persons handled by Harshavardhan (Mayuraa Raghavendra) gets a serious turn when a senior officer, played by Sudharani, comes into the picture. She escalates the case to police officer Sruthi Chakarvarthi (Hariprriya) who goes about solving it. She questions a few suspects, including cab drivers, and later learns that it is an insider job. What led this particular person to commit the murders takes the audience back and forth, ending with an abrupt climax.

The issue of the need for Karnataka residents to learn Kannada is a worthy topic for a film. But the storyline by Mayuraa (the director has written the story and the screenplay, and also plays a character in the film), muddles things with the crime episode, and ultimately sends out the wrong message — that there could be malice if Kannada is not spoken.

Hariprriya’s popularity as an investigative officer in her earlier film, D/o of Parvathamma, has landed the actor a similar role here, and she plays it with a lot of ease. The film features a limited star cast, and among those who stand out are Pavan, who plays a character with grey shades, and Dharmanna, who is seen as the cab driver. Cinematographer Giridhar Divan has captured some excellent aerial views of Bengaluru.

But performances and picturisation cannot save Kannad Gothilla which only works in parts.