Bettada Hoovu (transl. Mountain Flower) is a 1985 Indian Kannada-language film directed by N. Lakshminarayan, based on the Shirley L. Arora's novel What then, Raman?. Produced by Parvathamma Rajkumar, it stars her son Puneeth Rajkumar in the lead role.[1] Puneeth plays Ramu, a young boy born into a poor family, who is fond of reading books, but is forced to discontinue his studies and support his family financially. His performance earned him the National Film Award for Best Child Artist. Deccan Herald rated the film number one among the best "children's movies in Kannada".[2] The film won three Filmfare Awards South. The movie was also screened at Tehran.[3]

Bettada Hoovu
Theatrical release poster
Directed byN. Lakshminarayan
Screenplay byN. Lakshminarayan
Story byShirley L. Arora
Based onWhat then, Raman?
by Shirley L. Arora
Produced byParvathamma Rajkumar
StarringPuneeth Rajkumar
Padma Vasanthi
CinematographyB. C. Gowrishankar
Edited byP. Bhaktavatsalam
Music byRajan–Nagendra
Release date
  • 1985 (1985)
Running time
148 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageKannada

Plot

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Ramu is a young boy born into a poor family, living with his parents and two siblings in a hill station. His parents hardly make ends meet; mother working as a fruit- and vegetable-seller, and father running errands in and around the village, often as a help to the visiting tourists. However, Ramu likes reading his books and going to the school. He even friendship with a healthcare worker, who teaches him English after school. He is fascinated after watching a screening of the film Sri Ramanjaneya Yuddha in his village and also upon seeing Kuvempu's Sri Ramayana Darshanam at a bookstore, both based on the epic Ramayana, and wishes to buy the latter to read. Costing 10, he begins working towards it.

Due to an off-season when tourists return home, Ramu's family situation becomes dire and his father has to move to the city in search of work, leaving the responsibility of managing the family to young Ramu. Ramu is now forced to drop out of school to and to earn for his family. He starts doing little chores around the village, while saving a part of his earnings towards buying the book. He begins selling wildflowers to an American teacher, who is writing a book on Indian wildflowers. He earns ten rupees, enough to buy the book, when he brings an orchid flower to the teacher. However, when he goes to buy the book, he has a rethink. He has to make a decision between buying the book or a blanket to comfort his family members from the chilling winter cold. In the end, he decides to get the blanket, much to the happiness of his family. But then his dream of buying the book is shattered.

Cast

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Soundtrack

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The music was composed by Rajan–Nagendra.

  1. "Patte Huli Balu Ketta Huli" – C. Aswath
  2. "Bisile Irali Maleye Barali" – S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Master Puneeth
  3. "Thaayi Sharade" – Master Puneeth, P. B. Sreenivas

Awards

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National Film Awards – 1985[4]
1984–85 Karnataka State Film Awards
Filmfare Awards South[5]

References

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  1. ^ "I wanted to earn money and make merry: Puneeth Rajkumar". The Times of India. 13 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Ten children's movies in Kannada". Deccan Herald. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  3. ^ https://twitter.com/ShivannaFandom/status/1771026965811851377?t=ieSz-DnPt-HewM9EZgDriA&s=19 [bare URL]
  4. ^ "33rd National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  5. ^ 33rd Filmfare Awards South
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