‘Om’ was one film I was waiting to watch from a long time, since I had not watched the movie when it first got released. Though released 13 years ago in 1995, video and TV rights of the movie are still with movie makers. So you get to watch the movie only when it is showed in some theatre in Bangalore. I went to watch this movie on thursday in Pramod talkies, Vijayanagar. In the last 13 years it has been re-released 5 times and each time the response had been tremendous and critics call it a master piece. It is the film which gave new image to Kannada hero, Shivaraj Kumar and super star status to director Upendra. It also marked the emergence of Prema, who after this venture went on to become No.1 heroine in the Kannada film industry. Om literally was the beginning of an era. It was probably the first film in India to be based on underworld dons. After this only came the bollywood version of gangster movies like Satya, Company, Vaastav. The film was remade in all south Indian languages and also in Hindi as ‘Arjun Pandit’ with Sunny Deol taking up the lead role. 
Songs: Songs are important ingredients of any film to become hit and Om had it in plenty, thanks to the lyrics by Upendra and music by Hamsalekha. If ‘Om brahmaananda omkaara’, ‘O Gulaabiye’, ‘Collegeu Kumaru’ became hit among the masses, ‘Mehabooba’ was for the front rows crowd. Dr.Rajkumar had lended his voice to songs ‘Om brahmaananda omkaara’ and ‘O Gulaabiye’, which even today sung in orchestras in Bangalore. To get the full lyrics of the all the all songs of Om click here. To listen to the songs of ‘Om’ click here(kannadaaudio.com).
Highlights: ‘Om’ can be easily judged as one of the best performances by Shivaraj Kumar. He had to don both roles – first as soft spoken guy and then as hard talking gangster. Dialogues are another factor which made film a hit. To hear the complete story of film ‘Om’ click this link of kannadaaudio.com. Another aspect which became talk of the town was its awesome screenplay. Of course, how one can forget the direction by Upendra? Upendra had presented the human side of gangsters and had sent a message in the movie.After ‘Om’, he directed ‘A’ and ‘Upendra’ and then put an end to his directorial ventures. Kannada film fans would like to see him wear the director’s cap soon. Uppi, are you listening?
Aftermath: Gangster movie trend which started with ‘Om’ still continues in Sandalwood. Numerous movies have come after ‘Om’ based on gangster theme, no movie tasted success as ‘Om’ did. The film which come close to ‘Om’ in success may be Shivaraj Kumar starrer, Prem directed ‘Jogi’. Since ‘Om’ was fresh in its theme it become a huge hit but the same theme is being overused and now every other hero introduced in Gandhinagar holds a macchu in his hand and most producers place their buck on gangster movies to make quick profit. This also had made Kannada film audience stop coming to theatres. But now with films like ‘Mungaaru Male’, ‘Gaalipata’, ‘Cyanide’, ‘Milana’ this has changed a bit. I wish that this machchu or gangster era in Gandhinagar would end soon.
Film Info :
Name : Om
Star cast : Shivaraj Kumar, Prema, Harish Rai, Shree Raksha
Picture Source - kannadaaudio.com
Plot: Movie begins with a journalist interviewing and publishing the stories of Bangalore gangsters presenting the circumstances which lead them to become so. ‘Om’, is a book which she authored and she gives it to three gangsters which tells the story of a gangster - Satya alias Satyamurthy(Shivaraj Kumar), coming from a poor family, is a soft spoken guy studying in a college. He is made fun of in the college and is a subject of constant humiliation. Madhuri(Prema) is being woed by a man whose brother is a gangster. Madhuri does not care and makes Satya fall in love with her. Unable to bear this, the man brings his brother to settle score with Satya. Madhuri turns to Satya, provokes him to take on the gangster. Satya in rage beats up the gang and Madhuri makes sure that Satya gets arrested by the police. Satya gets released and comes to know that Madhuri is taking revenge on him – circumstances had lead Satya to lie in the court to save his family, as result of which Madhuri’s brother gets convicted and commits suicide. Satya is not accepted in his house as well and the only door open to him is to join the underworld. But he still loves Madhuri even though she does not love him. In the latter part, Madhuri is faced with similar situation as of Satya and realizes her mistake and wants Satya to come out of underworld. But the underworld who Satya is a part refuses to leave him. Well that was story being read by three gangsters who realize that the last pages of the book 'Om' are missing and eager to know what happened to Satya in the end and meet the author. The journalist takes them to Satya, who had left underworld is now handicapped and runs a small hotel and is happy in his life. Film ends saying how one can never be happy as a gangster and the three gangsters promise to put down their arms as well. Songs: Songs are important ingredients of any film to become hit and Om had it in plenty, thanks to the lyrics by Upendra and music by Hamsalekha. If ‘Om brahmaananda omkaara’, ‘O Gulaabiye’, ‘Collegeu Kumaru’ became hit among the masses, ‘Mehabooba’ was for the front rows crowd. Dr.Rajkumar had lended his voice to songs ‘Om brahmaananda omkaara’ and ‘O Gulaabiye’, which even today sung in orchestras in Bangalore. To get the full lyrics of the all the all songs of Om click here. To listen to the songs of ‘Om’ click here(kannadaaudio.com).Highlights: ‘Om’ can be easily judged as one of the best performances by Shivaraj Kumar. He had to don both roles – first as soft spoken guy and then as hard talking gangster. Dialogues are another factor which made film a hit. To hear the complete story of film ‘Om’ click this link of kannadaaudio.com. Another aspect which became talk of the town was its awesome screenplay. Of course, how one can forget the direction by Upendra? Upendra had presented the human side of gangsters and had sent a message in the movie.After ‘Om’, he directed ‘A’ and ‘Upendra’ and then put an end to his directorial ventures. Kannada film fans would like to see him wear the director’s cap soon. Uppi, are you listening?
Aftermath: Gangster movie trend which started with ‘Om’ still continues in Sandalwood. Numerous movies have come after ‘Om’ based on gangster theme, no movie tasted success as ‘Om’ did. The film which come close to ‘Om’ in success may be Shivaraj Kumar starrer, Prem directed ‘Jogi’. Since ‘Om’ was fresh in its theme it become a huge hit but the same theme is being overused and now every other hero introduced in Gandhinagar holds a macchu in his hand and most producers place their buck on gangster movies to make quick profit. This also had made Kannada film audience stop coming to theatres. But now with films like ‘Mungaaru Male’, ‘Gaalipata’, ‘Cyanide’, ‘Milana’ this has changed a bit. I wish that this machchu or gangster era in Gandhinagar would end soon.
Film Info :
Name : Om
Star cast : Shivaraj Kumar, Prema, Harish Rai, Shree Raksha
Director : Upendra
Music Director : Hamsalekha
Duration : About 2 hours and 30 minutes
First Release Year : 1995
Music Director : Hamsalekha
Duration : About 2 hours and 30 minutes
First Release Year : 1995
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Big Banyan Tree : Well, I started from Vijayanagar and reached Nayandahalli from where Shande picked me at 7 30 AM. Bike ride was not even 25 minutes when we reached Big Banyan Tree at Ramohalli. Plan was to have breakfast here, wander around the dodda aalada mara and then proceed towards Manchinabele dam. As the full gang of 11 people was yet to assemble at the spot, me, Shande and Subhajit started our photographic adventure! Big banyan tree is spread across 3 acres and provides photographers with the opportunities to shoot in different perspectives. We tried to find main root of the tree without any success but later I came to know that it was succumbed to a natural disease. After the first photo session we had our breakfast in the nearby hotel and got ready to shoot for the second time, this time monkeys which are abundant around the big tree!
Manchinabele Dam/Backwaters : Big banyan tree also houses Shri Muneshwara Swamy temple. After our visit to dodda aalada mara, we headed towards Manchinabele dam which is about 8 kms from Ramohalli. Well, for the resort enthusiasts here is an info – Ruppis Hotel & Resort by Kannada actor Upendra is nearby Big Banyan Tree. Further, road towards Manchinabele dam was in pathetic condition as it was not asphalted and it was understandable too, as on the way we found facilities being setup with all those hi-fi antennas for Chandrayan mission 2010 by ISRO(Indian Space Research Organization) and so new roads were being laid. 
Manchinabele dam was not too far and we reached soon there. Backwaters at the dam with Savanadurga on the backdrop, give the place picturesque look. No short of SLRs and other Digicams, gang was on for photographic expedition as soon as we reached the place. We had stopped at the rocky area near the dam to take some photos and have some snacks as it was already past 12. Chit chats and exclamations of the beautiful place followed.
Our next stop was to stop at the banks of the river which was known for bird watching. Not a variety of birds though as Brahminy kite was prominent among the eagles in the place. Birds are at a striking distance and care is required while carrying cameras. One could also find cranes though they were less in number. Well, surroundings near the river offer you cool breeze to escape from hot sun. Savanadurga, largest monolith hill in Asia, seemed quite near from here. Other than birds in motion there was not much to see. Facing the Manchinabele backwaters was the hilly area in the above picture. What caught my attention was its striking resemblance to Kashmir valley!
Temple is now being expanded into Mukthi Naaga Temple complex which will have 125 feet Mahadwara/Rajagopura, Navagraha temples, Kshetra Palaka Temple, Patladamma temple, Aadimukthi Naaga Temple, 1008 Nagabana, Annapurna Meals hall, Chikka Palani, Go Shala, Dharmadarshi Bhavan and Dharmadarshi house. After the darshan at the temple we were on our way back home.
Dreaded Viva: I think atleast some of us, engineering students, used to shiver and most of us used to develop a healthy fear during those lab exam days. That is one of the reasons for Hari, one of the 3 characters to feel uncomfortable during the grilling viva-voce and he goes to the extent of attending viva after having vodka to overcome the fear, only possible in novels! This fear among students is not without reason as in the case of other engineeing colleges, professors from rival colleges who come for lab viva try to settle scores by means of this dreaded tool and make life miserable for the students like Hari. But the question always remains as who started the trend first: the professors from this college who had gone to other colleges or is it other way! Atleast IIT guys should be lucky in this regard as these institutions are autonomous and vivas are conducted by in-house faculty only! Is it right to assume so?