‘Karavali’ movie review: A race that stumbles before the finish line

Kambala, the high-speed buffalo-racing sport, had a small yet significant presence in Rishab Shetty’s Kantara (2022). That movie used the sport as a tool to depict the fearless, fierce energy of its protagonist. Now, imagine a movie that revolves around Kambala — its politics and the rich history behind the century-old tradition — while giving as much importance to the animals as to the men who race them. That’s exactly what director Gurdhatha Ganiga’s Karavali sets out to do.

You are drawn to the film almost instantly, thanks to the immersive world-building crafted by Ganiga and team. The director’s notable work before Karavali was the remake Ambi Ning Vayassaytho. With this film, he proves his potential to bring compelling, original stories to the screen, making the most of his technical team.

Abhimanyu Sadanandan’s cinematography blends sweeping drone shots with intimate close-ups and inventive camera angles to elevate several sequences. Sachin Basrur’s stirring score complements the visuals. Pratheek Shetty’s editing is impressive, with seamless transitions keeping you wrapped in the film’s world.

The director spends the first half patiently establishing the story. The narrative appears reluctant to move from one conflict to another, but the measured pacing is a conscious choice, giving the characters room to grow.

In a picturesque town in coastal Karnataka, Ramesh Indira plays the feared ‘Dhoddavaru’, a man who wields authority over the village. A classic power-hungry patriarch, he goes to any length to retain his throne of power. That explains why the Koti Chennaya Kambala hasn’t taken place in the village for 30 years; whoever wins the race gets to the coveted kurchi, a seat representing absolute power.

Nobody dares to take on ‘Dhoddavaru’, until Dhananjay (Prajwal Devaraj), a gentle yet gifted youth, gets dragged into this politics. Dhananjay shares a special bond with the buffaloes, treating them with affection and taming them with gentleness. Is he the chosen one to dethrone ‘Dhoddavaru’? Is there a past that ties him to Kambala?

Karavali is at its best when its dwellls on subtle moments. The lead romance, portrayed by Prajwal and Sampada Hulivana, may not leave a lasting impact, but its deft handling makes it watchable. The buffaloes are treated like members of the family. In fact, Kambala is treated with the same reverence as Hulivesha and Bhoota Kola in some of the most celebrated Kannada films set in coastal Karnataka. My favourite dialogue is when Mahabala (Mithra), a man nursing Kambala dreams for 30 years, says the slushy tracks of the sport should never get stained with blood.

Even Raj B Shetty’s extended cameo as Mahaveera is bolstered by tender moments. The absurd idea of a highly skilled Kambala racer falling for buffaloes more than women is conveyed with the right dose of humour. The actor’s screen presence strengthens the episode.

There is a powerful scene involving Mahabala that lays bare the harsh realities of caste discrimination. But Karavali doesn’t dig deep into this angle. Instead, it treads familiar ground. Mithra’s performance goes from understated to loud as Karavali unfolds into one melodramatic stretch after another. The story struggles to move forward, as it keeps circling the plot point of Mahabala wanting to avenge his massive personal loss and end the dominance of ‘Dhoddavaru’. The narrative loses great momentum, as you witness one tragedy after another, making the climax extremely predictable.

Predictability is still not the biggest issue of Karavali. It’s the handling of the lead character. It’s quite bizarre to see Prajwal’s role being so out of place in the film’s universe. He is a capable actor, but in this film, he never quite finds the measure of his character. The director and his team of writers never delve into the character’s inner world. What does Dhananjay think of his past? How does he warm up to the big responsibility that defines the movie’s central idea? The script has more high moments for Mahabala and Mahaveera, with Dhananjay made to go through the motions except for a few moments, including the climax. Then, if you are calling Dhananjay’s character the central character of the movie, shouldn’t you convince us of it?

It’s not clear if the rift between Prajwal and Ganiga led to this result. The film was in the news for the wrong reasons in the lead-up to its release, with Prajwal crying foul over his remuneration not being paid and not being given a chance to dub his voice. The dubbed voice for Prajwal doesn’t seem out of place, and moreover, the character has very few lines to say.

Ganiga attempts to tell a complex story and makes the most of it by transporting you to a different world thanks to his solid technicians. But Karavali fails to leave you with an emotional high.

Karavali is currently running in theatres