Director: Nagashekar
Cast: Uday, Anil, VIjay, Kriti Kharbanda, Amulya, Rangayana Raghu, B Jayashree, Srinivasamurthy, Sadhu Kokila, Devaj, Sadhu Kokila, Bullet Prakash
Even before we talk about the film or whether it lives up to the hype surrounding it and how vital is to save the tigers for a balanced eco-system, it is more appropriate to first pay respects to the two actors who lost their 'lives' in an unfortunate incident during the shooting of this film. Uday and Anil, the two antagonists of Maasthi Gudi, who died due to drowning have a very limited role to play and after watching this many may even wonder about the deadly risk they took in their end!
However, irrespective of whatever said and done, the show must go on. Now, back to Nagashekar's 'Maasthi Gudi' which claims to be the one of the finest in sandalwood. The tale is about the tigers, the connections between the wild animals, the forests and the humans who are closely inhabited in such areas, and their wild beliefs.
This one has some similarities with the classic Kannada film 'Gandhadha Gudi' but here it is more about the tigers which roar a lot on the screen. Of course, there is a ghost, a goddess called 'Maastavva' who has been protecting the villagers, a pretty love story, a small girl child, forest officials and finally the poachers who are hatching a plan to burn down the entire forest.
As always, Vijay puts in his best but 'Maasthi Gudi' lacks the critical essence to keep the audience 'hooked' onto it. It starts with the forest set up and the obvious attempts to poach the wild animal. The protagonist, a mahout played by Vijay does his heroic best to save the tigers from poachers. The rest of is just a filler and the plot goes haywire right from the beginning and gets worst as it crawls to climax.
In between, there comes a short love story which is taken over by a one-sided love story. Apart from capturing the beautiful forest and the wild animals to some extent, the computer generated tiger makes an average impression. The biggest disappointment is the two deceased actors who have a very limited role to play, and they even sound comical at times uttering a few English words. Apart from the unusual nose rings and earrings, they are seen wearing, they are mostly busy hatching plans while playing a game of chess or golf!
There is at least some benefits for the children or for any illiterate who can learn about carnivores and herbivores and how vital it is to save tigers for a balanced eco-system, as briefly explained by the actress Suhasini who plays the guest role, giving us the all-important biology lesson plus the wild connection of potable water and the tigers. Wish, 'Maastavva' the 'reel' goddess had saved in the real, the two innocents lives.
