'Beru' - new film of P. Sheshadri

Mr. N. Venkatachala and director P. Sheshadri

After Atithi and Munnudi, director P. Shedri is back with yet another social concern subject 'Beru - the Root'. P. Shedri, known for offbeat films is trying to convey the intensity of corruption in our governing systems. Government and its ruling is meant to serve people and strive for the development activities. But degradation of moral values, lack of commitment can lead to dangerous situation. The system may degenerate into self-seeking and self-protecting power centers. When this happens, the system will become a breading ground of corruption and scandals. Even an honest individual who wants to serve the society get sucked in this stinking system. Beru is an attempt to give a wakeup call to raise the conscious about many such issues around us.

The story of Beru starts with an old man Goravaiah, poor folk artist. Though he doesn't have any regular income source, he gives shelter to an orphan girl Gouri as a true example for humanity. Corruption and the negligence of the government officials affect this poor man when he approaches them to fell a banyan tree that is damaging his house. Deeply penetrated roots into the wall were affecting the stability of his house. But as usual, the officials neglect his requests and make him to run after them. More than that the taluk level office was operated without a senior officer but by an irresponsible junior official Venkateshaiah.

M.P. Venkat Rao and Baby Sowmya in Beru

One fine day, a sincere and enthusiastic young officer Raghunandan takes the charge of this office. Before he settles down, he gets an order to furnish the Inspection Bungalow for a minister's unexpected visit to that place. Here the different level of corruption unfolds. Nobody in his office or the village knows where the IB is! After a long hunt he comes to know that there is no such IB in the village but the record shows the expenditure of construction and maintenance! Record also shows that the servant of the IB is paid every month. After enquiring, Raghunandan comes to know that junior official Venkateshaiah was taking that salary in the name of IB servant. The financial constraint of Venkateshaiah makes Raghunandan to feel pity on him and the humanity wont allows him to report the whole scandal to Government. And Goravaiah's complaint takes back seat in all these crisis.

When the situation worsens, Raghunandan gets into trouble and his senior officer feels that Raghunadan too is a corrupt officer. To overcome the situation, Venkateshaiah suggests an inhuman solution. He convinces Raghunadan to trap Goravaiah in this Dattanna and Suchendra Prasad in Beru

issue. When both of them go to meet Goravaiah they find him dead. Heavy rain of previous night damages the broken wall and the house collapses killing Goravaiah. The big banyan tree stands out as evidence to all the happenings. That also represents the strong and deep-rooted corruption in the system.

Dattanna as Venkateshaiah and M.P. Venkata Rao as Goravaiah lived those characters. Suchendra Prasad who is a known small screen actor did a neat job as Raghunandan. Last but not the least is Baby Sowmya who is Gowry in the film deserves a pat. Neeta as Suma (wife of Raghunanadan) also justified the role.