Dalawayi

By Vani Nagendrappa

CAST               B C PATIL, VIJAYALAKSHMI, KIRTI, VINOD RAJ, K ASWATH
MUSIC             HAMSALEKHA
DIRECTION   SHIVAMANI
PRODUCER   VANAJA B PATIL

Dalawayi B C Patil, the cop in real life, comes on time in reel life also, unlike the police in other movies who are known for their appearance only at the climax.

The producer had himself said that he was in search of a good police story which he finally found in the Tamil film 'Walter Vetrivel'.

The 'Satyameva Jayate' newspaper reporter's sister is kidnapped. This investigative journalist knows the whereabouts of the gang, which is into pornography and other illegal activities. As we anticipate, he is murdered and nobody comes forward to take up the case. Then the hero comes into action. He catches the murderer in a very cinematic way, not allowing his 'pavitravada khakhi' to be touched.

This Dalawayi, as he confesses, is not only a man of muscle but also a man of heart. He has a very loving and close-knit family. Son of a very honest minister (K Aswath), he has a naughty sister (Kirti) and a very loving brother, who maintains a mysterious silence. Though he loves his family more than his life, his duty still comes first.

Then enters the heroine - Vijayalakshmi, who falls prey to the same plot of the gang producing blue films. She escapes and accidentally meets the hero. Now, she is the only source who can identify the gangsters for the department. The heroine dances in hotels, but only to give life to children of the orphanage who gave life to her. The hero, highly impressed by her character, marries her. Ironically, he seems to be having culprits in his own family. 'Kotwal' and his gang are now after his wife's life as she is the only potential source for the police. In the process, Dalawayi loses his son. But as a duty-bound officer (who is rarely found in reality) he comes out of his mission successfully.

Director Shivamani has not been able to live up to the original version. However, the crowd, which has not seen the Tamil version, will appreciate this film. B C Patil's expressionless eyes are rightly covered with dark glasses whenever required. Dialogues between the honest minister (Aswath) and his PA, Sihikahi Chandru, who is after easy money, is filled with wit that makes the going easy for the audience. The director has not done justice to Vinod Raj's talent, who makes a guest appearance in a dance sequence. Vijayalakshmi, Kirti, Manjunath and Minavati have all acted well. Though Aswath reappears after five years, he is at his best. Music and lyrics by Hamsalekha has nothing new to offer. It is an average film. Kannada audiences shall really miss the late Shankar Nag, when they watch Dalawayi.

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