India, April 29 -- THERE'S A SCENE in Kuldeep Cariappa's Kannada film Nodidavaru Enanthare that's telling. Siddharth (Naveen Shankar), the lead man, wades his way through life, struggling silently. Once, he needs to enter his boss's cabin. His face is unfeeling, his body stiff, but he expends much energy to slap a smile on his face, and then knocks on the door. For all practical purposes, Siddharth puts on a show for every social interaction because he does not want anyone, including himself, to feel a thing.

What happens then when he has to confront his past life, flee and wander before finding home again? That's what Kuldeep attempts in Nodidavaru Enanthare (translates to 'what will people say?'). This is his first full-length feature ...