Starring: Ajay Rao, Sanjana Anand, Pramod Shetty, Sharath Lohitashwa, Aruna Balraj, Tabla Naani and others

Directed by: Jockey

Produced by: T R Chandrashekhar

Stars: 2

Actor Ajay Rao has not been able to see a success for a while. His new film ‘Shokhiwala’ which was on released on Friday joins the bandwagon of the failures he has seen in the last few years.

Ajay in a recent interview had said that ‘Shokiwala’ is the first out and out comic entertainer of his career. Though the film is very much new to him, such a film is not new to the Kannada audience. The audience has already seen typical films starring other heroes. So, there is nothing new in this film.

‘Shokiwala’ is a rural entertainer set in the backdrop of Mandya. Krishna (Ajay Rao) a youth is seen absconding and his parents are worried when they get blood stained clothes of him. The story then shifts to a police station, where the parents narrate the adventures of Krishna. The protagonist is a modern day romeo flirting with the girls of the village. He finally finds true love in the form of Radha (Sanjana Anand) who is the daughter of the village head. What happens next forms the crux of the film.

As told earlier, ‘Shokiwala’ has nothing new to offer to the Kannada audience. Moreover, the film lacks pace from the beginning. The first half is very boring and has nothing much to offer, except for the hero trying to woo the heroine. The twist comes during the interval, where Krishna and Radha trying to elope to get married. Though there are some twists in the tale, the film lacks thrills and becomes flat.

Though Ajay has tried his best, a poor script has failed him again. Sanjana Anand doesn’t have much to do except for sing and dance. It is the seniors like Sharath Lohitashwa, Tabla Naani, Aruna Balaraj, Giri and others try to save the show with their performances.

Totally, ‘Shokiwala’ is a new picture fitted in a very old frame.