Samskara

The Kannada film dealt with  the lives and the customs  of the Madhwa community.  Samaskara directed by Pattabhi Rama Reddy was a path-breaking attempt in Kanada as far as parallel cinema is considered.  A Brahmin named Narayanappa dies suddenly.  He used to drink liquor and kept a sudra mistress.  He disobeyed the traditions of Brahmin actually.  Now there is a discussion about his cremation in the community, and the Acharya (Girish Karnad) ,the head of the Brahmin community fails to answer it.  He reads the holy books, but they do not provide any solution.  Meanwhile Acharya sleeps with Narayanappa's mistress and then he feels guilty about it and runs away from his place.  The film gives a beautiful count of the political,social and moral  issues involved in the funeral rites.  However this film becomes repetitive after a certain point. Still overall this film is a must watch for film-lovers.