‘Nimma Vasthugalige Neeve Javabdaararu’ movie review: A delightful anthology on the grey areas of human behaviour

‘Nimma Vasthugalige Neeve Javabdaararu’.

The public safety reminder of “please take care of your belongings” is often considered redundant until we lose something valuable owing to our negligence. Even if we do end up being a victim of a clever robbery, all we do is curse the crook and move on. Keshav Moorthy’s Nimma Vasthugalige Neeve Javaabdaararu (meaning: You are responsible for your belongings) delves into the psyche of those who steal

The three-film anthology begins with the story of Inaayat (Prasanna V Shetty), who stutters to sell his company’s product but never misses a chance to flip a shoe or a slipper lying upside down. For him, it’s almost a sin to leave your footwear like that, thanks to his obsessive-compulsive disorder.

A meek-looking salesman from the outside, Inaayat is more than what you see at first, as the film slowly unravels his wicked side that helps him make quick bucks. His psychological condition is an underlying factor that forces Inaayat to stick to certain aspects of his life, even if it involves huge risks.

The film then shifts to the story of Rohith (Madhusudhan Govind), a kleptomaniac. We see a drastic change in the backdrop in the two stories. From the middle-class life of Inayaat, who works hard for roti, kapada, and makhaan, we witness the world of Rohith, who steals for fun even as he assists his father in his opulent business. From cramped rooms in a small house, the focus shifts to a cozy mansion with lavish spaces.

Inayaat’s tale reflects every middle-class man’s struggles with financial burdens in a big city. Nimma Vasthugalige Neeve Javaabdaararu, shot mostly in real locations, is a sharp reflection of the ever-evolving Bengaluru. 

After taking us through the city’s bylanes, cinematographer Harsha Kumar Gowda shows us the beautiful and vibrant side of Bengaluru in the second story as Rohith and Rathna bond over ‘similar interests‘. Essaying the young couple in the relationship drama, Apoorva Bharadwaj and Madhusudhan Govind surrender to the crazy moments of the story to strike up terrific chemistry. The light-hearted tone of the movie is akin to a joyous holiday.

In a way, Nimma Vasthugalige Neeve Javaabdaararu is fine proof of director Keshav Moorthy’s ability to dabble with different genres. The changing moods of the anthology are complimented by Prathik Sathik’s refreshing score, transforming the serious themes into fun and intriguing.

The third movie is blessed with intense drama, amplified further by the brooding presence of Dileep Raj and Shilpa Manjunath. The film keeps you guessing about its next move. Though a tad long, the director gradually draws you into the story. The short gives a delicious spin to its core theme of stealing and losing things. How do you deal with lost trust? Are all of us bad in someone’s story?

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It was refreshing to see the director’s non-judgemental treatment of his flawed characters. We have been conditioned in Kannada cinema to see films passing a moral judgment. Nimma Vasthugalige Neeve Javaabdaararu is a much-needed change in that aspect. Why do you have to make a final point when you can engage us from beginning to end and leave us thinking?

Nimma Vasthugalige Neeve Javaabdaararu hits the screens on January 10, 2025.