While the monsoon played hide and seek in the city, I chanced upon Panchatantra on ZEE5. A fantastic and different attempt by director Yogaraj Bhat, the movie was a complete entertainer that made my weekend. After watching the movie, it got me thinking how far Yogaraj Bhat has come as a director. For me, Yogaraj Bhat movies have always been the ideal monsoon watch. They have got romance, a nice subject and songs that you can’t help but keep humming. All these factors make for warm and feel-good movies that you can relax with as you hear the drizzle of the rains.
The magical connection of Yogaraj Bhat movies and the monsoon goes back to his 2006 runaway industry hit, the classic Mungaru Male. Set in the backdrop of lush green Madikeri, the movie brought in a freshness, just like its title (which means pre-monsoon rain). The heartfelt dialogues which were written by him still manage to pull at the heartstrings. The conversation between Preetham (Ganesh) and Nandini (Pooja Gandhi) in the rain is considered iconic now.
Since Mungaru Male, Yogaraj Bhat continued his track record with successful well-written films that stirred the heart. While his movies have a strong romantic core (hence, perfect for monsoon), his stories also manage to focus on serious topics like the debate on sanity in Manasare, Indian family conservativism in Pancharangi and generation gap in Panchatantra. But, at the same time, the storytelling is far from preachy and remains in an entertaining zone. That way, his films are not just fresh and entertaining but also cater to the family-friendly audience. Another highlight of his movies is the way they use monsoon as a backdrop. With few exceptions, his movies are known to feature key sequences in the rains. Trust me, no one makes the monsoon look beautiful like he does.
When talking about Yogaraj Bhat movies, we cannot help but mention the beautiful songs. The lyrics and picturisation of his movies are simply spectacular. Be it the cult song anisuthide yaako indu from Mungaru Male or Shrungarada Honge Mara from Panchatantra, the visuals, music and lyrics leave you in amazement. We could keep watching the music videos from his movies on loop, as rain truly set the romantic mood.
Last but not least, his quirky dialogues are the cherry on the cake. Yogaraj Bhat’s characters are not just well-written but also speak wisdom in a way that feels relatable. Think about this, rains mean we do not want to step off that often. We end up chatting up with friends and family, sharing anecdotes and pieces of information and advice that end up helping us. Yogaraj Bhat is able to bring in that same quality in his movie’s characters. Hence, watching his films feels like seeing someone we know.
We could go on and on about Yogaraj Bhat movies and the fun of them in the monsoon. This is a combination that needs to be enjoyed. Hence, go ahead and check out his movies wherever you can. In case you are looking for a quick fix search, you can find Panchatantra, Mugulu Nage and Dana Kayonu on ZEE5. So, set up your watchlist online today and relish the charm of his movies with a hot cuppa of tea or coffee.
I haven’t heard seen any of his movies. Will check.