Chandrahasa Alva

Singaru borrows money from Taradevi, who runs a brothel, and requites her by acquiring prospective clients. Smitten by Parvathy, who has been forced into the flesh trade, Singaru tries to rescue her.

Naik, Palegar and Dalavayee hail from rich families and live a life of pure comfort. Neela challenges them to move to a far-off place and work like normal people with access to few resources.

Life of theater artistes. The Oedipus complex. The tragic life of a quintessential movie heroine. These are some of the themes handled by ace director Puttanna Kanagal with his characteristic finesse in Ranganayaki. Ranganayaki (Arati) is a popular artiste in a drama troupe owned by her father and brother. When a rich young man (Ashok) falls in love with her and wishes to marry her, she reluctantly bids adieu to her profession. A few years later, when Ranganayaki, by a twist of circumstances, dons the role of the heroine in a play for a day, her husband leaves her, taking with him their young son. Ranganayaki returns to the drama troupe. The audience for theater having dwindled, she accepts an offer to act in a movie, and changes her name to Mala. Twenty years later, a good looking young man (Ramakrishna) befriends Mala, who is an established movie heroine and becomes besotted by her. Mala who is now in her forties, feels maternal affection for the young man. As their relationship evolves, the movie industry becomes abuzz with rumours of an affair. Mala has a chance meeting with her estranged husband. While she has remained unmarried despite her stardom, he has remarried and moved on. Mala wishes to meet her son. Her husband is reluctant, since he has not disclosed her identity to their son. The series of incidents that follow set the stage for the tragic end of the quintessential heroine. The movie, ahead of its times, also deals with the Oedipus complex with a finesse characteristic of director Puttanna Kanagal. —Guest

Watch the full movie, Muniyana Madari, only on Eros Now. Muniyana Madari is a 1983 Indian Kannada film, directed and produced by Dorai-Bhagvan. The film stars Shankarnag, Jai Jagadish, Kokila Mohan and Jayamala in lead roles. The film had musical score by Rajan-Nagendra.