Mithayi Mane
Encyclopedia
Mithai Mane is a 2005 Kannada
film directed by Aarathi
(whose daughter wrote the screenplay). The title (which means "candy house") was inspired by the Brothers Grimm
fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel
. The film explores the theme of how children would find fulfillment in a candy house they came across in a forest. Actually, the sweetness and fulfillment is illusory; the reality is that there is a witch living inside who uses the appearance of the house to catch children, so she can cook them and eat them.
, based on a short story written by her daughter Yashaswini.
Santosh Rai Pathaje
was the cinematographer; in addition to his camera work, he has also directed Savi Savi Nenapu
and Seven O' Clock
.
, and Aditi won the Best Child Actor award for her role in the film.
Cinema of Karnataka
The cinema of Karnataka , sometimes colloquially referred to as Sandalwood and as Chandanavana in Kannada, encompasses movies made in the Indian state of Karnataka based in Bangalore. Most of the movies are made in Kannada, with a handful of them in Konkani or Tulu. Today more than 100 films are...
film directed by Aarathi
Aarathi
Aarathi is an Indian actress and producer of Kannada movies.She first became popular during the late 1970s and 1980s, and was recognised for her roles in movies such as Naagarahaavu, Edakallu Guddada Mele, Bili Hendthi, Dharmasere, Paduvaaralli Pandavaru, Ranganayaki, Hombisilu, Upaasane and...
(whose daughter wrote the screenplay). The title (which means "candy house") was inspired by the Brothers Grimm
Brothers Grimm
The Brothers Grimm , Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm , were German academics, linguists, cultural researchers, and authors who collected folklore and published several collections of it as Grimm's Fairy Tales, which became very popular...
fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel
Hansel and Gretel
"Hansel and Gretel" is a well-known fairy tale of German origin, recorded by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812. Hansel and Gretel are a young brother and sister threatened by a cannibalistic hag living deep in the forest in a house constructed of cake and confectionery. The two children...
. The film explores the theme of how children would find fulfillment in a candy house they came across in a forest. Actually, the sweetness and fulfillment is illusory; the reality is that there is a witch living inside who uses the appearance of the house to catch children, so she can cook them and eat them.
Plot
Mithai Mane is the story of an 11-year-old girl named Ganga, who leaves from a poor village to work as a maid for a well-off family in the city. Her situation is compared throughout the movie to the plight of Gretel (held prisoner in the witch's cottage), and her story is interwoven with a voice-over narration of the Hansel and Gretel story. One of Ganga's tasks is to bring the household children's lunch boxes to their private school. At the school she is befriended by Swathi, a schoolgirl who wants to help her. As their friendship grows, Ganga becomes more aware of her surroundings. Child labor is at the heart of this film, but it is treated with gentle irony and there is no assignment of blame. The well-to-do family is self-absorbed and insensitive, not cruel and exploitative. The audience, however, has seen the plight of the villagers and the contrast with the opulence of the city-dwellers is obvious. The most powerful image is the open-eyed and honesty that Ganga brings with her from the village. These qualities will eventually force her to leave the sugar-coated house in the city where everything is a little too sweet. Ganga is played by child actor Aditi.Cast and crew
Mithayi Mane was produced by Chandrasekar Desigoudar, and the score was composed by N. S. Prasad. Among the cast were Aditi, Dharmendra Urs, Surabhi J. Herur, Hanumantha Raju, Ragashree Prasad, Akshara, Deeksha Naik, Panchami, Lakshmi Nada Gowda, Padma Shimoga, Shailashree, Suchitha Anthunadhan, Pallavi and Raghavendra. The film was directed by former Kannada actress AarathiAarathi
Aarathi is an Indian actress and producer of Kannada movies.She first became popular during the late 1970s and 1980s, and was recognised for her roles in movies such as Naagarahaavu, Edakallu Guddada Mele, Bili Hendthi, Dharmasere, Paduvaaralli Pandavaru, Ranganayaki, Hombisilu, Upaasane and...
, based on a short story written by her daughter Yashaswini.
Santosh Rai Pathaje
Santosh Rai Pathaje
Santosh Rai Pathaje is an ace Cinematographer and Director of Kannada Film Industry, also known popularly as Sandalwood. He is the Cinematographer of many Kannada movies like Bhaava Bhamaida, Law and Order, etc.-Early days:...
was the cinematographer; in addition to his camera work, he has also directed Savi Savi Nenapu
Savi Savi Nenapu
Savi Savi Nenapu is a Kannada film starring actor Prem and Mallika Kapoor in the lead roles amognst others. The film was released in 2007.-Synopsis:...
and Seven O' Clock
Seven O' Clock
Seven O' Clock is a Kannada film released in 2005. It was produced by N. M. Suresh under the Thulaja Bhavani Creations banner. It is directed by well known Cinematographer, Director Santosh Rai Pathaje.-Plot:...
.
Awards
Mithayi Mane won the Best Children's Film award for 2004–05 issued by the Government of KarnatakaKarnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, and Aditi won the Best Child Actor award for her role in the film.
External links
- http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/review/8126.html
- http://www.viggy.com/interview/arathi.asp
- http://www.my-kannada.com/n/a/arc8-2005.shtml
- http://wwwin.kodak.com/IN/plugins/acrobat/en/motion/publications/images/archived/janmarch05.pdf