Kannada film ‘Peotu’ attempts to explore alcohol addiction through new lens

Do you know what the word ‘Peotu’ means? I didn’t, until I watched this lesser-known Kannada film, which recently released in theatres. For those who are unfamiliar, it’s a slang term meaning ‘drunkard’ in Kannada.

Directed by Karthik Rajan, an independent filmmaker based out of Bengaluru, Peotu explores a man’s arc as he battles alcoholism.

Produced by Grace Film Company, the story follows the emotional journey of Peter Patrick (played by Likith M.N.), a man devastated by his wife’s sudden departure, forcing him to seek solace in drinking.

Peter, a software engineer, returns home one day to find his wife, Reeta (Ashwini Chavare), missing. He finds a note saying she has left him for another man. Shocked by her desertion, Peter resorts to drinking to overcome his grief. Eventually, Peter, who becomes ‘Peotu’ Peter, lives a life of loneliness, regret, and alcohol abuse.

The story follows the emotional journey of Peter Patrick, a man, who filled with grief, seeks solace in drinking.
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Speaking to The Hindu about his debut feature directorial, Karthik says the film is a poignant tale of redemption, self-acceptance, and the painful journey towards healing.

Karthik, who began his career directing short films, wanted to explore alcoholism and the stigma attached to the issue through a performance-centric lens. Karthik says the film bats for empathy and humanity by portraying addiction without judgment.

“I have seen many alcoholics in my life, and I have seen many people who react very negatively to this issue. I believe some sort of dysfunctionality exists in everyone, and we need to accept it. Addiction is a very big term, and we need to look at it sensitively,” he says.

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He continues, “I have tried to capture the character’s emotional landscape from isolation and despair to moments of clarity and hope very realistically. Through this film, I want to encourage audiences to view addiction with a compassionate lens.

Peotu saw a theatrical release alongside Devil. Asked if that affected the film’s success, Karthik says, more than Devil, Akhanda 2, and Durandhar posed a challenge to Peotu. “We had planned the film’s release with Devil, because there were no other films releasing on that day. But with Akhanda’s unexpected release on December 12 and Durandhar’s massive success, many screens showing Peotu were affected. We hope to reach more people through OTT after we get a release date,” he says.

With a tighter screenplay and a shorter runtime (the film is 147 minutes) Peotu would have been more impactful, I say. He concurs. “The response has not been bad. I’ll take feedback in good spirits and improve my work. Shooting fight scenes at real locations was challenging, especially with a limited budget. I want to make difficult films. I know the journey is not easy, but it will be worth it.”