A - I am God. God is great.

Upendra wrote directed and starred in A. A kannada film that almost revolutionized a dying industry. A movie so bad and at the same time so good that it captivated you. Once you start watching this film, it becomes almost impossible to switch it off.

Upendra started his career as a director with a string of low budget crass comedies that became hugely successful. His partnership with actor Jaggesh gave the kannada film industry more than a few hits.

A, his first film as hero is rumored to chronicle his own experience with a starlet who used him and then dumped the poor chap for someone more powerful. The story basically aims at telling people that love is an illusion and a futile quest. The movie is also filled with Uppi’s trademark world view. There is no love and “people ain’t no good.” The story is simple enough but it is the manner of the telling that makes A compelling cinema.

“ Indian culture is great. Indian heritage is great. Indian people are not great.”

The movie starts with a viewing of Surya’s half completed film A. A foreigner pronounces interest in reviving the movie and finishing it provided Surya comes in as director to finish the movie he started. Surya though has slipped into an alcohol fuelled demtia and his love for his heroine Chandni is his only over riding concern in life. The movie then goes back to the beginning of Chandni and Surya’s relationship. Chandni’s initial love for Surya, her disillusionment with love, her betrayal of Surya and Surya’s own subsequent descent into madness. The completion of his movie within a movie is the blow out climax. The plot again is way too head fucking to talk about and simply must be watched to completely grasp.

Upendra as Surya is incredible. Over the top and very loud but he captivates you. Whether walking the streets of Bangalore gun in hand and killing people to set the balance of society right again, looking incredibly wasted, proclaiming himself to be God and forcing the temple priest to worship him at gunpoint, Upendra announced that he was a brand new star in Karnataka.

Upendra has been accused of making incredibly violent films. He has been accused of being misogynistic. Women have a tendency of getting beaten up and ill treated in his movies. Fair enough but then so do the men. If anything, Uppi is an equal opportunity hater.

Unfortunately, the success of A propelled Upendra into stardom and a string of commercial Kannada films have diluted his unique style and presence. Still, A is a landmark film in modern Kannada cinema. Upendra will never be hailed as the next Girish Kasaravalli or even a Suresh Heblikar or a Nagabharana but his style is all his own.