Teenage is very tricky. And just when you cross the teens and think you are a free bird, adulthood hits you with all its responsibilities. All of a sudden you are on your own and you have so many choices to make about love, life and all that jazz. It is at this point that you have to decide on how to spend the rest of your life. One wrong step can take away years from you.
Padde Huli tells one such story of a college guy who is torn between his true love and passion for music. Sampath (Shreyas Manju) is a happy-go-lucky guy from a middle-class family. His parents (V Ravichandran and Sudharani) are very encouraging. For Sampath, music is his life and his parents always push him to pursue his passion. After school, Sampath joins engineering with his best friend. Incidentally, his sweetheart from school Sangeetha (Nishvika Naidu) also joins the same college. Sampath confesses his love and Sangeetha reciprocates. The story trudges along the familiar campus life arc - with ragging scenes, clashes with seniors and colourful college events.
Just when he tries to settle down and concentrate on making a career in music, Sangeetha’s affluent parents prove to be a hurdle. Sampath will now have to choose between his true love and his first love – music.
Padde Huli is a remake of the Tamil film Meesaya Murukku (Twirl that moustache). The Tamil film was inspired by the life of singer-composer Hiphop Tamizha Adhi. The film was based partly on his life and the struggles he underwent to pursue his dream as an independent musician, and had a dose of masala to make it more commercially appealing. So, in the original movie, the makers often revisit Adhi’s hit music, giving us some top-notch original compositions.
But, in Kannada, instead of creating original hip-hop, which is very rare, the makers have remixed some of the best works of top Kannada writers and poets. As it is a musical love story, Padde Huli has 10 songs, of which only five are new. The songs in the album include – GP Rajarathnam’s 'Yenda Yendati', DV Gundappa’s 'Baduku Jatakabandi', KS Narasimhaswamy’s 'Ninna Premada Pariya', Basavanna’s 'Kalabeda Kolabeda' and BR Lakshman Rao’s 'Heli Hogu Kaarana'.
Growing up listening to the melodious version of these songs, it is hard to digest the remix, especially the hip-hop. Songs are the heart and soul of Padde Huli but the makers have ruined it by remixing old poems for half the album. The other five tracks though are peppy and fun. Music director B Ajneesh Loknath had upped the ante with Ulidavaru Kandante, Rangitaranga, Kirik Party and Bell Bottom. But with Padde Huli, he seems to have lost his mojo with the hip-hop beats.
For a debutant, Shreyas Manju, son of renowned producer K Manju, has done a good job. He dances, fights, bares his body and shows off his acting skills. The movie is a decent platform for a debutant and Shreyas has taken full advantage of it. Nishvika plays a silent college girl and has less scope for acting. Ravichandran and Sudharani are apt for their roles and one can only hope that the former will take up more such roles instead of still trying hard to be a college-goer.
Rakshit Shetty has a small role as Karna, Sampath’s senior, where he reprises his Kirik Party role. There’s a big surprise for Puneeth Rajkumar fans too in the climax. Director Guru Deshpande has his own way of treating remakes and that can be witnessed in Padde Huli as well. What makes Padde Huli stand out is the realistic treatment which gives it a slice of life feel, especially when it comes to the portrayal of college days.
If you have already watched the original, there is nothing more that Padde Huli has to offer. But if this is your first time, you are sure to enjoy this musical entertainer.
Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the film. Neither TNM nor any of its reviewers have any sort of business relationship with the film's producers or any other members of its cast and crew.