Honest Intentions, Lost in Translation

ANNADA cinema has occasionally paused its mainstream diversions to reflect on one of the state's most pressing realities—the decline of government schools.

- A SHARADHAA

Rishab Shetty's Sa Hi Pra Shaale Kasaragodu (2018) is one example that examines the politics of language and the vulnerability of children stuck in the crossfire. Interestingly, the title Guri itself carries cinematic history; it was once the name of a Dr Rajkumar film. Now, director Selvam Mathappan, who is also the cinematographer, reuses the name to tell a different story, one rooted in a rural classroom.

Drawing inspiration from the true incident of a school reopening in Kuppalli near Kolar, the film situates itself in the soil of Theralli Hill and dares to ask: what happens to a village when its school is left to fade away? The premise is simple yet urgent. A lone classroom stands with 16 students, guided by a teacher (Achyuth Kumar) who is more than just a custodian of knowledge. He is also a caretaker, disciplinarian, and the moral compass. Achyuth Kumar, one of Kannada cinema's most versatile performers, sheds his usual theatricality for a performance that is stripped down, steady, and quietly moving. His portrayal reminds us that the dignity of a teacher lies not in grandeur but in persistence.