It’s clear from Kaatera, Darshan’s second movie with Tharun Kishore Sudhir, that the actor enjoys collaborating with the director. Darshan’s performance in Tharun’s films evokes the sensation of a smooth, speed-filled highway ride without any obstacles in the way. Additionally, Kaatera offers you more reasons to savor the high of commercial cinema than their first joint venture, Roberrt.
The narrative takes place during a period when farmers were mistreated by feudal landlords. Under Chief Minister Devaraj Urs’s direction, the government’s land reforms act provides a glimmer of hope for the downtrodden people, but the avaricious Zamindars have other ideas. Darshan’s character Kaatera, a blacksmith who is brave and truthful, makes the decision to oppose caste prejudice and protect his community from the cruel landlords.
Kaatera (Kannada)
Director: Tharun Kishore Sudhir
Cast: Darshan, Aradhana Ram, Shruthi, Jagapathi Babu, Avinash, Kumar Govind
Duration: 183 minutes
Theme: Set in the 1970s, the film reveals the story of farmers confronting challenges that intricately shape the course of their lives, and how a courageous blacksmith stands against the oppressors to seek justice.
Kaatera has enough strong writing moments to qualify as a passable social drama. Tharun skillfully balances a healthy dose of “masala” entertainment with the plot’s weighty issues. He makes use of the Baasha-template, just as in Roberrt. He presents the hero as a kind and modest man. We are aware that beneath that façade there is a fighter who, when the need arises, can break free from his meek behavior.