Radhika Rajamani reviews Collector Gaari Bhaarya. Readers can also send their reviews here.
Collector Gaari bhaarya (Collector's wife) is a Telugu film made on the problems faced by women. A movie directed by debutante T Kripakar Reddy, the movie revolves around a collector's wife. The film espouses the cause of the woman, rather the wife who is neglected after marriage, it also touches upon the issue of the girl child (in a breezy way) and the craving for a boy in Indian society in a rather sermonising way. In a way, it portrays the plight of the woman in a tad simplistic and fairly idealistic way.
Indira (Bhumika), a MBA graduate wants to do something with her education. Unfortunately, the day she comes home after getting her degree, she is forced into marriage with Gautam (Prakash Raj), an IAS topper. Then her life takes a turn. Her husband (the collector) though educated is the archetypal male chauvinist who believes only in the male progeny to carry on the lineage. He is not happy with the birth of two daughters and wants a son. Indira is forced to go through a third pregnancy at the cost of her health. She suffers silently which is rather surprising.
The parallel track looks at the administration, corruption, politicians etc as Gautam has to function in a set-up which is highly corrupt and full of brokers making money. It traces the transfers he has to face on account of his non-bending attitude. That is in the beginning but later the movie is embroiled with the personal affairs.
On the one hand, the film shows Gautam as the principled and clean bureaucrat, while on the other as the insensitive husband obsessed for the son with no affection towards his wife. But all this is depicted in a slow manner making the audience feel the need for a faster pace.
Post-interval there is some momentum when Indira decides to review her life (after a chance meeting with an old college friend). She embarks on the route of championing the cause of the woman, particularly of the housewives who afterloses her identity marriage. Neglecting the house, she becomes a 'firebrand'and starts a movement which gains momentum in different cities. This whole issue dominates the second half and is simplistic, sketchy and far-fetched.
Director Kripakar Reddy's treatment of the age-old subject could have been more interesting rather than a stereotypical one. His homework of IAS officers' rankings should have been better as one couldn't fathom how a collector suddenly rises up to be an additional secretary within a few years of service! Álso too-much emphasis is laid on money-making mechanisms of the brokers and middlemen.
Prakash Raj fits the role well and performs in his usual style. Bhumika as the sweet, demure, submissive wife in the first half and the 'feminist'in the second half acts well showing the transformations in her character. The lead actors Prakash Raj and Bhumika are the only redeeming aspect of the film. The other cast is okay with all the comedians like Brahmanandam, Krishna Bhagava, MS Narayana, Dharamavarapu and Venu Madhav making their entries although in different roles.
The film is in the mainstream format with quite a few songs which sound pleasant to the ear. There's nothing much to rave about the technical aspects of the film.
Collector Gaari Bhaarya has a good theme but loses out on account of typical treatment. It's old wine in old bottle.
Rediff Rating: 
