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The COVID-19 pandemic, one of humanity's darkest phases, has inspired numerous feature films, many of which delve into its profound impact on human lives that focus on societal inconvenience, loss of life, and financial instability.
However, the latest Kannada film, Tenant, diverges from the norm. Set during the lockdown, it falls well within the crime and suspense genres.
With a limited ensemble cast and a single primary location, a house in a Bengaluru residential area, Tenant navigates its strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, it stands out for shedding light on a chilling reality: a crime that accounts for at least one in ten murders in India that is reported in a day.
Tenant Synopsis
Kamalesh (Rakesh Maiya) and Damini (Sonu Gowda) are a happy couple living in a house that was given to them by a relative. Kamalesh runs a grocery shop and rents a small terrace house to a bachelor.
While life goes smoothly for the couple, the lockdown enforced to curd COVID-19 affects their peaceful life. While financial instability hurts the family, the bachelor's nuisance is another concern.
Soon, a murder changes the whole scenario, especially with the tenant involved in the crime. The answer to who the victim was and the perpetrators involved forms the film's plot that burns slowly.
Tenant Analysis and Performance
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, at least 28,522 FIRs of murders were registered in the year 2022, a 78 killings every day. Of this, a small percentage, a small percentage or roughly one in ten killings may be because of extramarital affairs and romance!
Director Sridhar Shastri picks this cause of killing and turns it into a crime/suspense thriller set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 lockdown period.
Made with a moderate budget, the film's essence is suspense elements that to some extent keep the audience engaged. However, despite being a 99-minute saga, the narrative tends to lag at places before the real drama unfolds.
The film picks up the much-needed pace post-interval.
Insofar as performances are concerned, the talented bunch of actors led by Sonu Gowda, Dharma Keerthiraj, Rakesh Maiya and Tilak makes Tenant interesting. Ugramm Manju plays a key role.
Final take
Despite being a slow burner, Tenant merits watching for its core issue which is one of the reasons for killings across the globe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI4Ia4x2hCw