The new Kannada film Landlord has received a big fanfare from Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who wants to watch it. Since it showed signs of release on January 23, this film has garnered a lot of attention for its raw and visceral portrayal of the fight over land rights and human dignity. Set against the backdrop of a personal visit to the film’s protagonist, Vijay Kumar (Duniya Vijay), who officially invited the Chief Minister to attend a special screening.
"A Story Everyone Must Watch"
Emotionally inspired by its premise, CM Siddaramaiah complimented the team for choosing a subject that based their work on the values of equality that lies at the heart of the people's country and its national constitution. The CM, who prides himself on his pro-people credentials and has advocated for oppressed peoples, said movies like Landlord are "critical films for the age of the generation at large."
“I’ve actually heard some very upbeat comments about Landlord. This is the narrative of the exploited and the stories of those who fight back for dignity. Today, a movie like this one is a must-see. “I’m going to watch it,” said the Chief Minister in the meeting. He said the movie resonates with a message of social justice and that’s why it’s “essential to watch.”
The Essence of Landlord
Landlord, directed by Jadeshaa K. Hampi, is an appropriate 1980s rural fare. It recounts Rachayya (Duniya Vijay), a normal Indian man struggling against institutional oppression as well as grandstanding landowners' hubris to restore his rights.
Cast: Rachita Ram, Raj B. Shetty, Umashree: The cast of the movie is well cast and contains the very famous actress Rachita Ram as well as the memorable Umashree.
Social Relevance: Unlike the average commercial entertainer, the film illustrates the fight against the battle for liberation of the "haves vs have-nots" struggle and highlights the importance of the Indian Constitution ensuring the rights of the poor. That was also the name of Duniya Vijay's Passion Project.
Landlord is far more than a title that a prestigious milestone job for Duniya Vijay, it’s a project with deep roots in birthrights. The actor was also speaking about how the story was based off real events and folks from his own village. He thanked the Chief Minister for recognizing that the movie has a social message. “Our CM being that you never lose sight of your fight with oppressed, we were just really glad our CM was interested in our film,” he said. “He has been a good morale booster,” Vijay said.
Box office and Social Media Reaction
Landlord received glowing reviews from critics and audiences since its release Friday. Though praise is being given to the first half of it for world-building and emotional depth, a high-voltage showdown with Duniya Vijay and Raj B. Shetty has been star-studded for most people. The music by B. Ajaneesh Loknath has been equally lauded for taking things to a new level when it comes to thriller action. Special screening for Chief Minister is scheduled for early next week.
