Gantumoote also well known as Baggage is a Kannada film written and directed by Roopa Rao. This is Roopa Rao’s debut feature film. The story tells about Meera’s life, the main character of this film. Meera genuinely loves cinema, because of her parents always busy with their work the only places that entertained her was cinema. Unfortunately, she had a bad experience when she watched a film in cinema. A man grabbed her thigh and made her trauma of going to the cinema again. The fact that Meera’s got sexual harassment in public places makes me sad because in real life, many girls being harassted by a man in public places and leads into trauma. Meera still had hard time if her boyfriend tries to grab her thigh because she still trauma from her past experience.
The issue that draws my attention the most is when Meera’s on top of the hills trying to suicide herself but end up she can’t do it. It hits me because of how she feel devastated because of her boyfriend, the way she writes the poem about her love life is keeping me insane. Meera’s life never been easy, but when she met her first boyfriend made her feel the roller coaster of her life. Madhu also well known as Meera’s boyfriend end up kill himself because of he thinks that himself as a failure.
Madhu’s failureness leads into another issue which I can say that perhaps he is insecure with his ability, because Meera is able to do what she wants, she get better education than Madhu. Meera still have a proper education. The character of Madhu reminds me of how society can kill you, because of how they push you away to do what others do, and they will label you as failure when you can’t do something like most of them do. I personally feel sad why Madhu decided to kill himself because of his failureness, I hope he is not leaving Meera at that situation, or at least he writes or say something before he left Meera.
Along I watched this film I can feel that the director trying to make us feel the journey of Meera’s life, since she was child until she became adult. As the title “baggage” it has a deep meaning through the end of the film. Roopa Rao succesfully makes the viewer feel the joyness and sorrrowness of her life.
The film ends with Meera, who finds temporary solace on a hilltop, struggling to deal with Madhu’s demise.
“Someone invaded my privacy, that didn’t kill me. Someone invaded myself respect, that didn’t kill me as well. He invaded my soul and changed everything. I guess this wouldn't kill me either. You’re the baggage of my soul all I can do is to carry it gracefully.”
Gantumoote is about memories that Meera’s carry on her baggage. The film carry meera’s baggage with all the sensitivity and grace her journey deserves. Meera can’t really let go of Madhu because it is her first love, and also her letter to Madhu tells that how Madhu bring many impact for her life, thus makes her can’t moving on. I do hope that she is trying to open herself again, because she deserves to be loved by someone. Indeed mandhu always be in her baggage.
“every breath of mine longed for him. I can’t cry, I feel I will loose him again through tears.”
