The lost Soundarya’s last film ‘Aptha Mithra’ was released all over Karnataka. Ramesh Aravind plays her hubby and superstar Vishnuvardhan is in a psychologist role in this family entertainer.
This is a superb performance of Soundarya no doubt. But what is the use. This pretty lady is no more. But the role in which she has appeared has a close alliance to death. She is targeted unnecessarily by a ghost. It is a ghost that envelope on her in this film ‘Aptha Mithra’. The last three reels of this film belong to Soundarya. The ghost Nagavalli in the film surrounds her and gives all sorts of trouble to her.
We feel chhhhh…., for two things. One the ghost attack is so horrible to see on the screen giving trouble to Soundarya who looks so sweet. Secondly Soundarya is not with us. The producer of this film Dwarakish was weeping after watching this film at Santosh theatre at 4.30 pm show.
As a modest wife looking beautiful and dancing immaculately Soundarya later charges up with Telugu dialogues. This is in a way a tribute to the language the actress Soundarya had paid because it is in Telugu films she earned rich dividends even though she acted in her last Kannada film. Lakhs of Telugu fans of Soundarya in Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere can take out their handkerchief to wipe their tears. The Nagavalli with tremendous output Soundarya has given a commendable performance.
The film ‘Aptha Mithra’ itself has some synchronization to yesteryears Telugu film. The subject is that of the old Telugu film ‘Anthasthulu’ of Akkineni Nageshwara Rao. This film was produced by U.B.Rajendra Prasad father of current actor Jagapathi Babu. This was released two decades ago and the Malayalam film ‘Mani Chitrathal’ copied some portions from this Telugu film. Now Kannada version of these two is ‘Aptha Mithra’.
Shobana who was in key role in ‘Mani Chitrathal’ (the same role in ‘Aptha Mithra’ Soundarya played) reached the peak of her career winning national honors. But Soundarya left for heaven that is another peak one expects to go after death.
